644 
WALES 
while the fourth division (Bathurst) lying beyond this 
barrier range, consequently its waters run westerly, and 
terminate in the immense interior swamps, the outlet whereof 
is yet a mystery. Carriage roads lead from Sydney to them 
all, excepting the third division spoken of (upon Hunter’s 
River to the northward), to which there is yet but a cattle 
track. The main road from Sydney runs on in a line with 
George Street toward Paramatta; another road strikes off to 
the left of this, about the sixth milestone, towards Liverpool, 
and thence on to the southern counties of Argyle and West¬ 
moreland. Just before reaching Paramatta, a road turns off 
to join that leading to Liverpool, which town it connects 
with Paramatta. One road turning off from the portion of 
the town of Paramatta situated beyond the river, runs 
backward along the right bank of the stream towards Syd¬ 
ney, to communicate with the numerous farms upon that 
line; while three others branch off toward the interior from 
near this point. The first, toward the right, runs on to the 
town of Windsor, situated upon the river Hawkesbury, at 
the foot of the Blue mountains, where, crossing that river by 
a punt, you join the road leading to Hunter’s River. The 
second road, to the left of this, carries you to Richmond 
(twenty-one miles), situated upon the Hawkesbury, at the 
foot of the Blue mountains, also; and crossing the river Ry 
the punt, or at a convenient ford, you may join the Hunter’s 
River road from this too, or proceed on to Bathurst, beyond 
these mountains, by the new cut now in progress. The 
third road, farther to the left still, passes on to Emu Ford, 
likewise upon the Hawkesbury, where it crosses the Blue 
mountains to Bathurst, this being the original route by which 
that fine portion of country was first discovered. By means 
of these roads, Sydney is therefore connected with all the 
colonised portions of our territory. A number of cross¬ 
roads in the county of Cumberland either connect these 
main ones, or open laterally other portions of the country. 
“ Cumberland commences at Broken Bay, the outlet of the 
Hawkesbury, sixteen miles beyond Sydney, and stretches 
along the sea-coast to the southward fifty-six miles, counting 
in this line in southerly succession the harbours of Broken 
Bay, Port Jackson, and Botany Bay, calculated for large 
ships, and Port Hacking, for small craft. It is about forty 
miles broad, backed by the Blue mountain range westerly, 
with the Hawkesbury sweeping round it, and forming its 
northern and western boundaries, as the sea does its eastern ; 
while the Cow-pasture river, from where it joins the Haw¬ 
kesbury, extending south-easterly to an origin within thirty- 
five miles of the sea, forms its boundary in that direction, 
leaving thus only these thirty-five miles on its southern line 
in which it is not surrounded by water. Cumberland con¬ 
tains the towns of Sydney, Paramatta, Windsor, and Liver¬ 
pool, all fast increasing in population and rising into 
importance. Camden lies to the southward between Cum¬ 
berland and Argyle,—the Cow-pasture from the south-east 
and Wingecarabee from the south-west forming by their 
junction with the Hawkesbury its boundaries on these lines, 
—lying thus in the fork formed by their meeting. It extends 
in length sixty miles to the south-east, Shoalhaven port and 
river forming its boundary in that direction, thirty-five 
miles to the south of Port Jackson; the sea, in a direct line 
of thirty-five miles, constituting its eastern boundary. Its 
breadth is about twenty-six miles.—Shoal-haven is its only 
port, and this too calculated but for small vessels, being very 
dangerous of entry, even for these, from the number of its 
shoals. This port forms the extreme point of coast popula¬ 
tion southerly, Messrs. Berry and Wolstonecroft, two of our 
most eminent merchants, having a flourishing and extensive 
establishment here, where timber is sawed for the Sydney 
market, and tobacco and various other valuable products 
cultivated, besides a large herd of cattle maintained. No 
towns have yet been founded in Camden, and it possesses no 
artificial cross-roads; but the openness and easy accessibility 
of nearly all the fertile portion render these in a great 
measure unnecessary at present. Camden is watered by the 
branches of the Cow-pasture and Wingecarabee rivers 
(New South). 
falling into the Hawkesbury, and by some stray branches of 
the Shoal-haven river; while Cumberland has, to supply its 
wants, the south and east creeks coming from the south-east 
to join the Hawkesbury at Windsor, as also the south-west 
arm of the latter river terminating in Broken Bay, and 
George’s River passing Liverpool, and falling into Botany 
Bay. Various small streams and chains of ponds are found 
throughout both ; but, generally speaking, these two coun¬ 
tries are very defectively watered, and few springs are to be 
found. 
“ In Cumberland, theland immediately bordering upon the 
coast is of a light, barren, sandy nature, thinly besprinkled 
with stunted bushes; while, from ten to fifteen miles in¬ 
teriorly, it consists of a poor clayey or ironstone soil, thickly 
covered with our usual evergreen forest timber and under¬ 
wood. Beyond this commences a fine timbered country, 
perfectly clear of brush, through which you might, generally 
speaking, drive a gig in all directions, without any impedi¬ 
ment in the shape of rocks, scrubs, or close forest. This 
description of country commences immediately beyond 
Paramatta on one hand, and Liverpool on the other; stretch¬ 
ing in length south-easterly obliquely towards the sea about 
forty miles, and varying in breadth near twenty. The soil 
upon the immediate banks of the rivers is generally rich 
flooded alluvial, but in the forests partakes commonly of a 
poor clayey or ironstone nature, yet bearing usually toler¬ 
able crops, even without manure, at the outset. In Camden, 
the Mittigong range runs south-easterly through its whole 
length, terminating close to the sea in the lllawarra moun¬ 
tain, fifty miles south of Sydney, down the steep side 
whereof passes the rugged bridle-road to the beautiful, 
fertile, and romantic district of Five Islands, or lllawarra. 
From this range occupying so much of its interior, the 
quantity of land in Camden capable of cultivation is not 
very great, though making up tolerably by its richness for 
deficiency of extent; but the pasture land thereiu is not 
exceeded in quality by any in the colony.” 
The English and foreign commerce is so mixed up with 
that of Van Dieman’s Land, that the two colonies must, 
in this respect, be taken partially together; six years ago 
their whole intercourse did not exceed three ships annually, 
while, in the year preceding June, 1826, there were twenty- 
four ships from England, conveying numerous respectable 
emigrants, and importing cargoes of 200,000/. value; while 
the exports, in seventeen ships to England, consisting of 
wool, timber, pearl shells, &c., amounted to the value of 
above 100,000/. 
In 1821, six or seven vessels from India and China were 
the only foreign traders: now at least twenty-six foreign 
vessels, laden with the produce of those countries, arrive an¬ 
nually, making, with those entered inland from England 
and other parts, above fifty sail; with cargoes of at least 
400,000/. value. There is also a thriving trade with the 
South Sea islands and New Zealand. Spirits are now dis¬ 
tilled here, at a duty of 2s. 6cl. per gallon from grain, and 
4s. 2d. per gallon from sugar and molasses,—while West 
India rum pays a duty of 6s. per gallon, and all other spirits 
a duty of 7s. 6d. These protecting duties are quite suffi¬ 
cient, when grain is low, to secure a preponderance in favour 
of colonial distillation. Tobacco can be cultivated in suffi¬ 
cient quantities to preclude the necessity of importation. 
The cultivation of the sugar-cane deserves serious atten¬ 
tion, as, in many parts, the soil and climate are suited to its 
production. It has been objected, that it cannot be raised 
so cheap here by convict-labour, as etsewhere by slave- 
labour; but of this there are considerable doubts. It is also 
clearly practicable to cultivate the tea-plant, as it flourishes 
luxuriantly in the botanic garden here. 
Trepang, or beche-le-mer, is found both on the eastern 
and western coasts, and is highly esteemed by the Chinese; 
these, properly cured, might be advantageously bartered for 
the merchandize of the east. Coals are found in sufficient 
quantity to become articles of commerce. Timber was a 
thriving trade; but the low price obtained in the English 
market 
