BANKS OF THE MACQUARIE, 
9 
mer’s first station, we kept rather wide of the river, and 
only occasionally touched on its more projecting angles. 
The soil at a distance from the stream was by no means 
so good as that in its immediate vicinity, nor was the 
timber of the same description. On the rich and pic- 
turesque grounds near the river the angophora prevailed 
with the flooded gum, and the scenery upon its banks was 
improved by the casuarinm that overhung them. On the 
latter, inferior eucalypti and cypresses were mixed together. 
The country was broken and undulating, and the hills 
stony, notwithstanding which, they appeared to have an 
abundance of pasture upon them. Mr. Hume rode with 
me to the summit of a limestone elevation, from which I 
thought it probable we might have obtained such a view as 
would have enabled us to form some idea of the country 
into which we were about to descend. But in following 
the river line, the eye wandered over a dark and unbroken 
forest alone. The ranges from which we were fast receding 
formed an irregular and beautiful landscape to the south- 
ward ; and contrasted strongly with the appearance of the 
country to the N. W., in which direction it was rapidly 
assuming a level. 
We reached Mr. Palmer’s at a late hour in the afternoon, 
in consequence of a delay we experienced in crossing a 
gully, and encamped upon a high bank immediately oppo- 
site to the mouth of Mode’s rivulet, which here joins the 
Macquarie from the southward. The cattle had consumed 
all the food, and the ground on both sides of the river 
looked bare and arid. 
