XIX 
BATHURST 
471 
Australia by judging of the country from the roadside, nor 
too good a one from Bathurst; in this latter respect I did 
not feel myself in the least danger of being prejudiced. The 
season, it must be owned, had been one of great drought, and 
the country did not wear a favourable aspect ; although I 
understand it was incomparably worse two or three months 
before. The secret of the rapidly growing prosperity of 
Bathurst is, that the brown pasture which appears to the 
stranger’s eye so wretched is excellent for sheep-grazing. 
The town stands, at the height of 2200 feet above the sea, on 
the banks of the Macquarie : this is one of the rivers flowing 
into the vast and scarcely known interior. The line of 
watershed, which divides the inland streams from those on the 
coast, has a height of about 3000 feet, and runs in a north 
and south direction at the distance of from eighty to a hundred 
miles from the seaside. The Macquarie figures in the map 
as a respectable river, and it is the largest of those draining 
this part of the watershed ; yet to my surprise I found it a 
mere chain of ponds, separated from each other by spaces 
almost dry. Generally a small stream is running; and 
sometimes there are high and impetuous floods. Scanty as 
the supply of the water is throughout this district, it becomes 
still scantier farther inland. 
22 nd .—I commenced my return, and followed a new road 
called Lockyer’s Line, along which the country is rather more 
hilly and picturesque. This was a long day’s ride ; and the 
house where I wished to sleep was some way off the road, and 
not easily found. I met on this occasion, and indeed on all 
others, a very general and ready civility among the lower orders, 
which, when one considers what they are, and what they have 
been, would scarcely have been expected. The farm where I 
passed the night was owned by two young men who had only 
lately come out, and were beginning a settler’s life. The total 
want of almost every comfort was not very attractive ; but 
future and certain prosperity was before their eyes, and that not 
far distant. 
The next day we passed through large tracts of country in 
flames, volumes of smoke sweeping across the road. Before 
noon we joined our former road and ascended Mount Victoria. 
I slept at the Weatherboard, and before dark took another 
