Interior of New South Wales. 
171 
perceived in the remote distance one gap in a tabular sort of 
rocky country, through which I hoped the water-course would 
lead ; but I was disappointed in following it down, for this 
promising little river (the “ Amby” of the natives) turned to 
the southward of west, and I found in the gap only a conve¬ 
nient pass »for our carts to the interior country; it was, how¬ 
ever, a very remarkable opening, in which were several conical 
hills, on which grew many strange shrubs, and one of the hills 
consisted of basalt. I named this St. George’s Pass, in hope 
it may yet become a point on an important line of route. 
The country through which this pass led consisted in general of 
sandstone, where the tops of cliffs were distinguishable from the 
northward by the luxuriant grass upon them—a rather unusual 
feature in a sandstone country. Southward, and back from the 
pass, much good open forest land appeared around as the pre¬ 
vailing characteristic. There is, however, a tribe of natives bent 
on mischief in that neighbourhood. 
In the country beyond, I found another channel running north¬ 
west, and in it one pond, where I wished to encamp ; but on my 
ride forward next day I discovered that my party was upon the 
only water the little river contained, and that even its channel 
disappeared in a rich and extensive grassy flat. Just then some 
smoke arose in the woods before us, which revived my hopes 
of finding water; and on renewing my search 1 came upon a river 
fully as large as the Darling, following to the south-west. Subse¬ 
quent extensive reeonnoissances made thirty miles to the westward 
and eastward, convinced me that the course of this river (the 
“ Maranoa” of the natives) was not more favourable for the chief 
object of our journey than it had at first appeared. I found, 
indeed, to the westward and northward of the Sandstone Ranges, 
a well diversified country, with abundance of grass, some water, 
and finely shaped hills in groups, and also detached cones. But 
the river, leaving that lower country, forced its way amongst 
rocky cliffs, where its course was traceable by the open ground 
along its banks to be steadily south-west, and receiving, of course, 
the river “ Amby,” which had turned also in the same direction. 
Mr. Kennedy, with the main body of the party, joined me on 
