APPENDIX. NO. V. 
2]rj 
considerably to the importance of some other stream. It 
had a clay bottom, generally speaking, in many places semi- 
indurated and fast forming into sandstone, while there was 
crystallized sulphate of lime running in veins through the 
soil which composed the bank. 
This river differs from most in the colony, in having a 
belt of barren land of from a quarter of a mile to two miles 
in breadth in its immediate neighbourhood, and which is sub- 
ject to overflow. This belt runs to the inland plains, where 
a small elevation checks the further progress of the flood. 
There is magnificent blue gum on both sides the river, but 
the right bank is evidently the most fertile, and I am mis- 
taken greatly if there is not a beautiful country north of it. 
Of the country over which we have passed, it is impos- 
sible for me to have formed a correct opinion under its 
present melancholy circumstances. It has borne the ap- 
pearance of barrenness, where in even moderate rain, it 
might have shewn very differently, though no doubt we 
passed over much of both good and bad land ; our animals 
on the whole, have thriven on the food they have had, which 
would argue favourably for the herbage. Generally speak- 
ing, 1 fear the timber is bad — the rough-gum may be used 
for knees, and such purposes, and we may have seen wood 
for the wheelwright and cabinet-maker, speeimens of 
which I have procured, but none for general or household 
purposes. 
The creeks we have traced are different in character from 
those in the settled districts, inasmuch as that, like the 
river, they have a belt of barren land near them and but 
little grass — they have all of them been numerously 
frequented by the natives, as appeared from the number 
