from Moreton Bay to Port Essinyton. 23 
where we first came to it, evidently showing that the coal forma¬ 
tion extends high up the river. The windings of the Mackenzie 
are numerous and large. It was difficult to make out its general 
course. Lower down, however, it becomes more regular. It 
seems to enter the flats of the east, similar to those I mentioned 
at Zamia Creek. Its course is north-east, according to the black 
fellows, who are very numerous, and behaved very friendly to us. 
I do not think that that part of the Mackenzie we passed is 
well adapted for the establishment of cattle or sheep stations. 
The scrub is too frequent and too thick ; but the water, the variety 
and richness of the grasses, the fine plains, and open box forests, 
are very inviting. I have reason to believe that the scrub is less 
frequent down the river. 
At latitude 23 deg. 21 min. 30 sec. I left the Mackenzie, and 
travelled again in a north-west direction. In an extent of twenty- 
five miles we passed long stretches of thick scrub, of fine opened 
narrow-leaved iron-bark forest, of box flats and plains; the latter 
of a rich black soil, strewed over with pieces of fossil wood, 
changed into ironstone and silex. Some of the finest country, 
with rich grass and herbs, plenty of water, open forests and plain, 
with honey sweet as that of Hymettus, with plenty of game ; the 
air fragrant with wild thyme and marjoram—lined with dense 
bricklow scrub, extending more than twenty-five miles, inter¬ 
rupted only by creeks, which appear all to belong to the system 
of the Mackenzie. A fine range of peaks was seen from almost 
the only hill of this country, in a north-west direction. As I 
approached it, other lower ranges appeared, and two fine creeks, 
lined with casuarinse, with reedy water-holes, running to the south¬ 
west, lay in our course. These creeks are accompanied by fine 
open box and narrow-leaved iron bark flats; the latter, however, 
generally with rotten ground. I followed one of the creeks up to 
its head, and going up a sandstone spur, I came to a fine table 
land, where plains of rich black soil, covered with luxuriant grass 
and herbs, were separated by narrow strips of sandy ironbark 
forest. The plains enlarged as I advanced, and a series of mag¬ 
nificent cones and ranges rose from this level. I called this range 
“ Peak Range,” and gave the most prominent peaks separate 
