mencement of a mountain system, which, running nearly parallel with the eastern coast of Australia, extends to Cape York and Endeavour Bay. The highest summit in this range is Mount William, four thousand five hundred feet above the sea. In the parallel of Sydney, the range bears the name of the Blue Mountains. The mountains in this part do not appear to exceed three thousand feet in height, but, owing to the precipitous character of their surface, their more elevated parts are very difficult of access. The Liverpool range, which branches off to the westward, is of totally different character, the summits of this range consisting of rounded hills, or flat plains, covered with grass. The Hardwick range takes a northerly direction, and some of the loftiest summits in Australia appear to be situated in this part.

To the westward of this mountain system, a series of terraces occurs, which may be considered as the declivity of these mountains. These terraces consist of plains, of greater or less extent, separated from each other by low ridges; each ridge presenting a different geological formation. The terraces are destitute of timber trees, but are covered with luxuriant herbage, affording abundant food for cattle and sheep*.

Beyond the terraces, the lowlands commence, the extent of which is yet unknown. These plains are in many parts extremely level, though in others, they are slightly undulating; and they appear to have a gradual slope towards the south. In some districts, they are wholly destitute of vegetation; whilst, in others, saline plants occur, without an intervening blade of grass. Some of these plains are covered with polygonum, a gloomy and leafless bramble; and in others, as far as eye can reach, nothing is met with, except one kind of bush, forming a thick scrub. The richest soils in this part scarcely produce anything better than a small

The greatest part of the wool exported from Sydney, and which is esteemed of superior quality, is furnished by the sheep of this district.

number of stunted eucalyptus, or gum-trees, and cypresses; though a few highly-favoured spots are covered with good herbage, and trees of better growth.

The scenery in the Blue Mountains is of singular and striking character. These mountains consist principally of a succession of sharp ridges, intersected by remarkably abrupt and narrow ravines, or gulleys, some of which are little less than 2000 feet in depth. Many of these ravines constitute the beds of rivers; and in some parts, numberless small cascades pour down the almost perpendicular sides. A chasm, or ravine, of this description, of great depth, but not more than 300 feet in width, forms the bed of the River Grose, a tributary of the Hawkesbury. Near one of the sources of that river, occurs the cataract, called Govatt's Leap; which, although the body of water is inconsiderable, is remarkable for its great depth, and also for the character of the surrounding scenery. This cataract consists of a succession of cascades, the first of which is precipitated over a perpendicular rock, about 200 feet in height; and the entire fall to the bed of the river is estimated at full 1200 feet.

A remarkable burning mountain, called Mount Wingen, is situated on the eastern declivity of the Liverpool range. It was discovered to be in a state of incandescence in 1818, and the process appears to be still (or was until very lately) maintained in full force. The mountain is composed of a solid mass of sandstone, and the fire extends over an area of about an acre and a half. Throughout this space, several chasms, or fissures occur, from which volumes of smoke, accompanied by brilliant flames, are perpetually issuing. The principal of these fissures was, in the year 1831, about two feet in width, and on looking down this chasm, the sides of the rock are described as having been "of a white heat, like that of a lime kiln; whilst sulphureous and steaming vapours arose from the aperture, amidst sounds which issued from below, like blasts from the forge of Vulcan." The sides of the chasms were adorned with

efflorescent crystals of sulphur, varying in tint from the deepest orange to a pale straw colour. No lava, or any other volcanic products, were observed in the vicinity of this mountain.

Southern Australia appears, like Eastern Australia, to possess one of the characteristic features of the whole region, that of a ridge of mountains bordering on its shores, with a belt of country, of greater or less extent, and varying in fertility, lying between their base and the ocean. The same remark applies to Western Australia, where we meet with a succession of mountain ranges, running nearly parallel with the coast, and with each other. The Rugged Mountains find their southern termination near St. George's Bay. The granite range of the Darling Mountains commences at Cape Chatham; and the less elevated Roe's range at Cape Lewin, all more or less taking the line of the coast. At the northern extremity of the Darling Mountains, and about thirty miles to the eastward of that range, rises the Victoria range, very recently discovered by Captain Grey, between the base of which and the sea extends a large district of fertile country, to which the name of Victoria Province has been given. Another range has also been observed, branching off in a westerly direction from the Darling Mountains, and forming the northern boundary of a remarkably wellwatered district, immediately to the north of Perth. In some parts of Western Australia, however, the land is poor and sandy, though usually diversified with rich tracts near the principal streams; and in the latter districts, the fruits, both of warm and temperate zones, thrive luxuriantly. The interior of the country, as far as it is known, assumes, generally, a level character, and is covered with excellent pasture, and in some parts with forests, producing valuable timber.

The north-western angle of Australia appears to contain some highly-beautiful and fertile spots. On the coast, the general character is that of rocky sandstone hills, about 300 feet in height, covered with brushwood and