406 The Geology and Physical Aspect 
packed, as in the Karangamite formation. The rises to the west¬ 
ward of Mount Elephant are still more widely scattered, and are 
interspersed with numerous small plains and swamps, which afford 
excellent grazing for sheep and cattle: the height of these last 
rarely exceeds twenty or thirty feet. Proceeding westward, the 
next great formation of stony rises is that around Mount Napier, 
a well marked volcanic hill, about forty miles to the north of Port 
Fairy. The rocks of this, and the adjacent extensive formation 
still further to the westward around Mount Eeles, are so thickly 
and continuously scattered over the surface in the valleys as well 
as upon the eminences, that they are quite impervious to any 
vehicle, or even to a party on horseback, On this account they 
have always been much infested by the aboriginal natives, who 
still continue in considerable numbers to take shelter in these 
comparatively inaccessible wilds, and occasion serious loss to the 
neighbouring settlers by their predatory inroads upon the sheep 
and cattle. Other stony rises, of similar character with those 
above described, are scattered over various parts of the western 
portion of the district; but they are not, respectively, of any 
great extent. 
All the principal formations are of trap, usually vesicular in a 
greater or less degree, and extremely hard. The stone is abun¬ 
dantly mixed with iron, the vesicles or cavities being frequently 
coated with that substance, and emitting a metallic lustre. The 
first adventurers who essayed to traverse the Karangamite rises, 
lost their way, it is said, through the unsteadiness of the magnet, 
and wandered for several days with their live stock through the 
everlasting windings of the rocks. They succeeded, however, in 
reaching safely the magnificent country that lays immediately to 
the westward, and just in time to anticipate a competitor in the 
race, who pursued a more easy, but less glorious route by the 
north of the lake. The cavities of the rocks are also frequently 
coated with lime. 
In general, these rocks or stones are of moderate dimensions, 
weighing from one cwt. to half a ton, and occasionally the rock 
en masse forms a part of the rise, but it is usually much split and 
cracked, and neighbouring stones appear to have been detached 
