NEW HOLLAND. 781 
along it from the eaftward, which unites itfelf at the 
weftern extremity of the vale with another rivulet con¬ 
taining Hill more water. The junction of thefe two ftreams 
forms a very handfome river, now called by the governor 
Cox's River , which takes its courfe, as has been fince af- 
certained, through the Prince Regent’s Glen, and empties 
into the river Nepean ; and it is conjedtured, from the 
nature of the country through which it pafles, that it mull 
be one of the principal caufes of the floods which have 
been occafionally felt on the low banks of the river 
Hawkelbury, into which the Nepean difcharges itfelf. 
The Vale of Clwyd, from the bafe of Mount York, ex¬ 
tends fix miles in a welterly direction, and has its termi¬ 
nation at Cox’s River. Weftward of this river the coun¬ 
try again becomes hilly; but is generally open foreft- land, 
and very good pafturage. 
Three miles to the weftward of the Vale of Clwyd, 
Mefi'rs Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawfon, had formerly 
terminated their excurfion ; and, when the various diffi¬ 
culties are confidered which they had to contend with, 
efpecially until they had effedied the defcent from Mount 
York, to which place they were obliged to pafs through a 
thick brufh-wood, where they were under the neceflity of 
cutting a pafl'age for their baggage-horfes, the feverity of 
which labour had ferioufly aftedted their healths, their 
patient endurance of fuch fatigue cannot fail to excite 
much furprife and admiration. In commemoration of 
their merits, three beautiful high hills joining each other 
at the end of their tour at this place, have received their 
names in the following order, viz. Mount Blaxland, Went¬ 
worth's Sugar-loaf, and Luwfon's Sugar loaf. A range of 
very lofty hills and narrow valleys alternately form the 
tradl of country from Cox’s River, for a diftance of fix- 
teen miles, until the Fifh River is arrived at; and the 
ftage between thefe rivers is confequently very fevere and 
opprelfive on the cattle. To this range the governor gave 
the name of Clarence Hilly Range. 
Proceeding from the Fifh River, and at a fhort diftance 
from it, a very lingular and beautiful mountain attradfs 
the attention, its fummit being crowned with a large and 
very extraordinary-looking rock, nearly circular in form, 
which gives to the whole very much the appearance of a 
hill-fort, fuch as are frequent in India. To this lofty hill 
Mr. Evans, who was the firft European difcoverer, gave 
the name of Mount Evans. Palling on from hence, the 
country continues hilly, but affords good pafturage, gra¬ 
dually improving to Sidmouth Valley, which is diftindt 
from the pafs of the Filli River eight miles. The land 
here is level, and the firft met with unencumbered with 
timber. It is not of very confiderable extent, but abounds 
with a great variety of herbs and plants, fuch as would 
probably highly intereft and gratify the fcientific botanift. 
This beautiful little valley runs north-weft and fouth-eaft 
between hills of eafy af'cent thinly covered with timber. 
Leaving Sidmouth Valley, the country becomes again 
hilly, and in other refpedts refembles very much the coun¬ 
try to the eaftward of the valley for fome miles. Having 
reached Campbell River, diftant thirteen miles from Sid- 
luouth Valley, the governor was highly gratified by the 
appearance of the country, which there began to exhibit 
an open and extenfive view of gently-rifing grounds and 
fertile plains. Judging from the height of the banks, and 
its general width, the Campbell River muft be on fome 
occafions of very confiderable magnitude ; but the extra¬ 
ordinary drought which has apparently prevailed on the 
weftern fide of the mountains, equally as throughout this 
colony for the laft three years, has reduced this river fo 
much, that it may be more properly called a chain of 
pools than a running ftream at the prefent time. In the 
reaches or pools of the Campbell River, the very curious 
animal called the paradox, or water-mole, is feen in great 
numbers. [This, we fuppofe to be the Platypus, noticed 
In a former part of the article.] The foil on both banks 
is uncommonly rich, and the grafs is confequently luxu¬ 
riant. Two miles to the fouthward of the line of road 
Vol. XVI. No. 1154.. 
which croffes the Campbell River there is s very fine rich 
traft of low lands, which has been named Mitchell Plains. 
Flax was found here growing in confiderable quantities. 
The Fifh River, which forms a jumftion with the Camp¬ 
bell River a few miles to the northward of the road and 
bridge over the latter, has alfo two very fertile plains on 
its banks, the one called O'Connell Plains, and the other 
Macqitarrie Plains ; both of confiderable extent, and very 
capable of yielding all the neceffaries of life. 
At the diftance of feven miles from the bridge over the 
Campbell River, Bathurft Plains open to the view, pre¬ 
senting a rich trail of champaign-country of eleven miles 
in length, bounded on both lides by gently rifing and 
very beautiful hills, thinly wooded. The Macquarrie 
River, which is conftituted by the junction of the Fifh 
and Campbell Rivers, takes a winding courfe through 
the plains, which can be eafily traced from the high lands 
adjoining, by the particular verdure of the trees on its 
banks, which are likewife the only trees throughout the 
extent of the plains. The level and clean furface of thefe 
plains gives them at firft view very much the appearance 
of lands in a ftate of cultivation. 
The governor and fuite arrived at thefe plains on Thurs¬ 
day the 4th of May, and encamped on the fouthern or 
left bank of the Macquarrie River; the fituation being 
feledted in confequence of its commanding a beautiful 
and extenfive profpedt for many miles in every diredtion 
around it. At this place the governor remained for a 
week, which time he occupied in making excurfions in. 
different directions through the adjoining country, on, 
both fides of the river. On Sunday, the 7th of May, the 
governor fixed on a fite fuitable for the ereClion of a town 
at fome future period; to which he gave the name of 
Bathurft, in honour of the prefent fecretary of ftate for 
the coionies. The fituation of Bathurft is elevated fuffi- 
ciently beyond the reach of any floods which may occur, 
and is at the fame time fo near to the river on its fouth 
bank as to derive all the advantages of its clear and beau¬ 
tiful ftream. The mechanics and fettlers of whatever de- 
l'cription who may be hereafter permitted to form perma¬ 
nent refidences to themfelves at this place will have the 
highly important advantages of a rich and fertile foil, 
with a beautiful river flowing through it, for all the ufes 
of man. The hopes which were once fo fanguinely en¬ 
tertained of this river becoming navigable to the Weftern 
Sea, have ended in difappointment. 
During the week that the governor remained at Ba* 
thurft, he made daily excurfions in various directions ; 
one of thefe extended twenty-two miles in a fouth-weft 
direction ; and on that occafion, as well as on all the 
others, he found the country compofed chiefly of valleys 
and plains, feparated occafionally by ranges of low hills ; 
the foil throughout being generally fertile, and well cir- 
cumftanced for the purpofe of agriculture or grazing. 
“ The governor here feels much pleafure in being ena-* 
bled to communicate to the public, that the favourable 
reports which he had received of the country to the welt 
of the Blue Mountains, have not been by any means ex¬ 
aggerated. The difficulties which prefent themfelves in 
the journey from hence are certainly great and inevita¬ 
ble ; bpt thofe perfons who may be inclined to become 
permanent fettlers thefe will probably content themfelves 
with vifiting this part of the colony but rarely, and of 
courfe will have them feldom to encounter. Plenty of 
water, and a fufficiency of grafs, are to be found in the 
mountains for the fupport of fuch cattle as may be fent 
over them ; and the traCls of fertile foil and rich pafturage 
which the new country affords, are fully extenfive enough 
for any increafe of population and ftock which can pofli- 
bly take place for many years. Within a diftance of ten 
miles from the fite of Bathurft, there is notlefs than 50,000 
acres of land clear of timber; and fully one half of that 
may be confidered excellent foil, well calculated for cul¬ 
tivation. It is a matter of regret, that, in proportion as 
the foil improves, the timber degenerates; and it is to be 
9 N remarked, 
