ue grounds near the
river the angophora prevailed with the flooded gum, and the scenery
upon its banks was improved by the casuarinae that overhung them. On
the latter, inferior eucalypti and cypresses were mixed together. The
country was broken and undulating, and the hills stony, notwithstanding
which, they appeared to have an abundance of pasture upon them. Mr.
Hume rode with me to the summit of a limestone elevation, from which I
thought it probable we might have obtained such a view as would have
enabled us to form some idea of the country into which we were about to
descend. But in following the river line, the eye wandered over a dark
and unbroken forest alone. The ranges from which we were fast receding
formed an irregular and beautiful landscape to the southward; and
contrasted strongly with the appearance of the country to the N. W., in
which direction it was rapidly assuming a level.

We reached Mr. Palmer's at a late hour in the afternoon, in consequence
of a delay we experienced in crossing a gully, and encamped upon a high
bank immediately opposite to the mouth of Molle's rivulet which here
joins the Macquarie from the southward. The cattle had consumed all the
food, and the ground on both sides of the river looked bare and arid.

No doubt, however, the face of the country in ordinary seasons wears a
very different appearance. Its general elevation continued high; nor
did the Macquarie assume any change of aspect. Mountain debris and
rounded pebbles of various kinds formed its bed, which was much
encumbered with timber.

DIBILAMBLE.

We had been unable to persuade any of the natives of Wellington Valley
to accompany us as guides, on our leaving that settlement. Even Mr.
Maxwell's influence failed; for, notwithstanding the promises of
several, when they saw that we were ready to depart, they either
feigned sickness or stated that they were afraid of the more distant
natives. The fact is, that they were too lazy to wander far from their
own district, and too fond of Maxwell's beef to leave it for a
precarious bush subsistence. Fortunately we found several natives with
Mr. Palmer's stockmen, who readily undertook to conduct us by the
nearest route to the cataract, which we considered to be midway between
Wellington Valley and Mount Harris. We started under their guidance for
Dibilamble, Mr. Palmer's second station, and reached it about half-past
4 p.m. The distance between the two is sixteen miles. The co