TheextremeuniformityofthevegetationisthemostremarkablefeatureinthelandscapeofthegreaterpartofNewSouthWales。Everywherewehaveanopenwoodland，thegroundbeingpartiallycoveredwithaverythinpasture，withlittleappearanceofverdure。Thetreesnearlyallbelongtoonefamily，andmostlyhavetheirleavesplacedinavertical，insteadofasinEurope，inanearlyhorizontalposition：thefoliageisscanty，andofapeculiarpalegreentint，withoutanygloss。Hencethewoodsappearlightandshadowless：this，althoughalossofcomforttothetravellerunderthescorchingraysofsummer，isofimportancetothefarmer，asitallowsgrasstogrowwhereitotherwisewouldnot。Theleavesarenotshedperiodically：thischaracterappearscommontotheentiresouthernhemisphere，namely，SouthAmerica，Australia，andtheCapeofGoodHope。
　　Theinhabitantsofthishemisphere，andoftheintertropicalregions，thusloseperhapsoneofthemostglorious，thoughtooureyescommon，spectaclesintheworld——thefirstburstingintofullfoliageoftheleaflesstree。
　　Theymay，however，saythatwepaydearlyforthisbyhavingthelandcoveredwithmerenakedskeletonsforsomanymonths。Thisistootruebutoursensesthusacquireakeenrelishfortheexquisitegreenofthespring，whichtheeyesofthoselivingwithinthetropics，satedduringthelongyearwiththegorgeousproductionsofthoseglowingclimates，canneverexperience。Thegreaternumberofthetrees，withtheexceptionofsomeoftheBlue-gums，donotattainalargesize；buttheygrowtallandtolerablystraight，andstandwellapart。ThebarkofsomeoftheEucalyptifallsannually，orhangsdeadinlongshredswhichswingaboutwiththewind，andgivetothewoodsadesolateanduntidyappearance。Icannotimagineamorecompletecontrast，ineveryrespect，thanbetweentheforestsofValdiviaorChiloe，andthewoodsofAustralia。
　　Atsunset，apartyofascoreoftheblackaboriginespassedby，eachcarrying，intheiraccustomedmanner，abundleofspearsandotherweapons。
　　Bygivingaleadingyoungmanashilling，theywereeasilydetained，andthrewtheirspearsformyamusement。Theywereallpartlyclothed，andseveralcouldspeakalittleEnglish：theircountenancesweregood-humouredandpleasant，andtheyappearedfarfrombeingsuchutterlydegradedbeingsastheyhaveusuallybeenrepresented。Intheirownartstheyareadmirable。
　　Acapbeingfixedatthirtyyardsdistance，theytransfixeditwithaspear，deliveredbythethrowing-stickwiththerapidityofanarrowfromthebowofapractisedarcher。Intrackinganimalsormentheyshowmostwonderfulsagacity；andIheardofseveraloftheirremarkswhichmanifestedconsiderableacuteness。Theywillnot，however，cultivatetheground，orbuildhousesandremainstationary，oreventakethetroubleoftendingaflockofsheepwhengiventothem。OnthewholetheyappeartometostandsomefewdegreeshigherinthescaleofcivilizationthantheFuegians。
　　Itisverycuriousthustoseeinthemidstofacivilizedpeople，asetofharmlesssavageswanderingaboutwithoutknowingwheretheyshallsleepatnight，andgainingtheirlivelihoodbyhuntinginthewoods。Asthewhitemanhastravelledonwards，hehasspreadoverthecountrybelongingtoseveraltribes。These，althoughthusenclosedbyonecommonpeople，keepuptheirancientdistinctions，andsometimesgotowarwitheachother。
　　Inanengagementwhichtookplacelately，thetwopartiesmostsingularlychosethecentreofthevillageofBathurstforthefieldofbattle。Thiswasofservicetothedefeatedside，fortherunawaywarriorstookrefugeinthebarracks。
　　Thenumberofaboriginesisrapidlydecreasing。Inmywholeride，withtheexceptionofsomeboysbroughtupbyEnglishmen，Isawonlyoneotherparty。Thisdecrease，nodoubt，mustbepartlyowingtotheintroductionofspirits，toEuropeandiseaseseventhemilderonesofwhich，suchasthemeasles，[1]proveverydestructive，andtothegradualextinctionofthewildanimals。Itissaidthatnumbersoftheirchildreninvariablyperishinveryearlyinfancyfromtheeffectsoftheirwanderinglife；andasthedifficultyofprocuringfoodincreases，somusttheirwanderinghabitsincrease；andhencethepopulation，withoutanyapparentdeathsfromfamine，isrepressedinamannerextremelysuddencomparedtowhathappensincivilizedcountries，wherethefather，thoughinaddingtohislabourhemayinjurehimself，doesnotdestroyhisoffspring。
　　Besidestheseveralevidentcausesofdestruction，thereappearstobesomemoremysteriousagencygenerallyatwork。WherevertheEuropeanhastrod，deathseemstopursuetheaboriginal。WemaylooktothewideextentoftheAmericas，Polynesia，theCapeofGoodHope，andAustralia，andwefindthesameresult。Norisitthewhitemanalonethatthusactsthedestroyer；thePolynesianofMalayextractionhasinpartsoftheEastIndianarchipelago，thusdrivenbeforehimthedark-colourednative。Thevarietiesofmanseemtoactoneachotherinthesamewayasdifferentspeciesofanimals——thestrongeralwaysextirpatingtheweaker。ItwasmelancholyatNewZealandtohearthefineenergeticnativessayingthattheyknewthelandwasdoomedtopassfromtheirchildren。EveryonehasheardoftheinexplicablereductionofthepopulationinthebeautifulandhealthyislandofTahitisincethedateofCaptainCook’svoyages：
　　althoughinthatcasewemighthaveexpectedthatitwouldhavebeenincreased；
　　forinfanticide，whichformerlyprevailedtosoextraordinaryadegree，hasceased；profligacyhasgreatlydiminished，andthemurderouswarsbecomelessfrequent。
　　TheRev。J。Williams，inhisinterestingwork，[2]says，thatthefirstintercoursebetweennativesandEuropeans，“isinvariablyattendedwiththeintroductionoffever，dysentery，orsomeotherdisease，whichcarriesoffnumbersofthepeople。”Againheaffirms，“Itiscertainlyafact，whichcannotbecontroverted，thatmostofthediseaseswhichhaveragedintheislandsduringmyresidencethere，havebeenintroducedbyships；[3]andwhatrendersthisfactremarkableis，thattheremightbenoappearanceofdiseaseamongthecrewoftheshipwhichconveyedthisdestructiveimportation。”Thisstatementisnotquitesoextraordinaryasitatfirstappears；forseveralcasesareonrecordofthemostmalignantfevershavingbrokenout，althoughthepartiesthemselves，whowerethecause，werenotaffected。IntheearlypartofthereignofGeorgeIII。，aprisonerwhohadbeenconfinedinadungeon，wastakeninacoachwithfourconstablesbeforeamagistrate；andalthoughthemanhimselfwasnotill，thefourconstablesdiedfromashortputridfever；
　　butthecontagionextendedtonoothers。Fromthesefactsitwouldalmostappearasiftheeffluviumofonesetofmenshutupforsometimetogetherwaspoisonouswheninhaledbyothers；andpossiblymoreso，ifthemenbeofdifferentraces。Mysteriousasthiscircumstanceappearstobe，itisnotmoresurprisingthanthatthebodyofone’sfellow-creature，directlyafterdeath，andbeforeputrefactionhascommenced，shouldoftenbeofsodeleteriousaquality，thatthemerepuncturefromaninstrumentusedinitsdissection，shouldprovefatal。
　　17th——EarlyinthemorningwepassedtheNepeaninaferry-boat。
　　Theriver，althoughatthisspotbothbroadanddeep，hadaverysmallbodyofrunningwater。Havingcrossedalowpieceoflandontheoppositeside，wereachedtheslopeoftheBlueMountains。Theascentisnotsteep，theroadhavingbeencutwithmuchcareonthesideofasandstonecliff。
　　Onthesummitanalmostlevelplainextends，which，risingimperceptiblytothewestward，atlastattainsaheightofmorethan3000feet。FromsograndatitleasBlueMountains，andfromtheirabsolutealtitude，I
　　expectedtohaveseenaboldchainofmountainscrossingthecountry；butinsteadofthis，aslopingplainpresentsmerelyaninconsiderablefronttothelowlandnearthecoast。Fromthisfirstslope，theviewoftheextensivewoodlandtotheeastwasstriking，andthesurroundingtreesgrewboldandlofty。Butwhenonceonthesandstoneplatform，thescenerybecomesexceedinglymonotonous；eachsideoftheroadisborderedbyscrubbytreesofthenever-failingEucalyptusfamily；andwiththeexceptionoftwoorthreesmallinns，therearenohousesorcultivatedland：theroad，moreover，issolitary；themostfrequentobjectbeingabullock-waggon，piledupwithbalesofwool。
　　Inthemiddleofthedaywebaitedourhorsesatalittleinn，calledtheWeatherboard。Thecountryhereiselevated2800feetabovethesea。
　　Aboutamileandahalffromthisplacethereisaviewexceedinglywellworthvisiting。Followingdownalittlevalleyanditstinyrillofwater，animmensegulfunexpectedlyopensthroughthetreeswhichborderthepathway，atthedepthofperhaps1500feet。Walkingonafewyards，onestandsonthebrinkofavastprecipice，andbelowoneseesagrandbayorgulf，forIknownotwhatothernametogiveit，thicklycoveredwithforest。
　　Thepointofviewissituatedasifattheheadofabay，thelineofcliffdivergingoneachside，andshowingheadlandbehindheadland，asonaboldsea-coast。Thesecliffsarecomposedofhorizontalstrataofwhitishsandstone；
　　andaresoabsolutelyvertical，thatinmanyplacesapersonstandingontheedgeandthrowingdownastone，canseeitstrikethetreesintheabyssbelow。Sounbrokenisthelineofcliff，thatinordertoreachthefootofthewaterfall，formedbythislittlestream，itissaidtobenecessarytogosixteenmilesround。Aboutfivemilesdistantinfront，anotherlineofcliffextends，whichthusappearscompletelytoencirclethevalley；
　　andhencethenameofbayisjustified，asappliedtothisgrandamphitheatricaldepression。Ifweimagineawindingharbour，withitsdeepwatersurroundedbyboldcliff-likeshores，tobelaiddry，andaforesttospringuponitssandybottom，weshouldthenhavetheappearanceandstructurehereexhibited。Thiskindofviewwastomequitenovel，andextremelymagnificent。
　　IntheeveningwereachedtheBlackheath。Thesandstoneplateauhashereattainedtheheightof3400feet；andiscovered，asbefore，withthesamescrubbywoods。Fromtheroad，therewereoccasionalglimpsesintoaprofoundvalley，ofthesamecharacterastheonedescribed；butfromthesteepnessanddepthofitssides，thebottomwasscarcelyevertobeseen。TheBlackheathisaverycomfortableinn，keptbyanoldsoldier；
　　anditremindedmeofthesmallinnsinNorthWales。
　　18th——Veryearlyinthemorning，IwalkedaboutthreemilestoseeGovett’sLeap；aviewofasimilarcharacterwiththatneartheWeatherboard，butperhapsevenmorestupendous。Soearlyinthedaythegulfwasfilledwithathinbluehaze，which，althoughdestroyingthegeneraleffectoftheviewaddedtotheapparentdepthatwhichtheforestwasstretchedoutbeneathourfeet。Thesevalleys，whichsolongpresentedaninsuperablebarriertotheattemptsofthemostenterprisingofthecoloniststoreachtheinterior，aremostremarkable。Greatarm-likebays，expandingattheirupperends，oftenbranchfromthemainvalleysandpenetratethesandstoneplatform；ontheotherhand，theplatformoftensendspromontoriesintothevalleys，andevenleavesinthemgreat，almostinsulated，masses。Todescendintosomeofthesevalleys，itisnecessarytogoroundtwentymiles；andintoothers，thesurveyorshaveonlylatelypenetrated，andthecolonistshavenotyetbeenabletodriveintheircattle。Butthemostremarkablefeatureintheirstructureis，thatalthoughseveralmileswideattheirheads，theygenerallycontracttowardstheirmouthstosuchadegreeastobecomeimpassable。TheSurveyor-General，SirT。Mitchell，[4]endeavouredinvain，firstwalkingandthenbycrawlingbetweenthegreatfallenfragmentsofsandstone，toascendthroughthegorgebywhichtheriverGrosejoinstheNepean，yetthevalleyoftheGroseinitsupperpart，asIsaw，formsamagnificentlevelbasinsomemilesinwidth，andisonallsidessurroundedbycliffs，thesummitsofwhicharebelievedtobenowherelessthan3000feetabovethelevelofthesea。WhencattlearedrivenintothevalleyoftheWolganbyapathwhichIdescended，partlynaturalandpartlymadebytheowneroftheland，theycannotescape；forthisvalleyisineveryotherpartsurroundedbyperpendicularcliffs，andeightmileslowerdown，itcontractsfromanaveragewidthofhalfamile，toamerechasm，impassabletomanorbeast。SirT。MitchellstatesthatthegreatvalleyoftheCoxriverwithallitsbranches，contracts，whereituniteswiththeNepean，intoagorge2200yardsinwidth，andabout1000feetindepth。Othersimilarcasesmighthavebeenadded。
　　Thefirstimpression，onseeingthecorrespondenceofthehorizontalstrataoneachsideofthesevalleysandgreatamphitheatricaldepressions，isthattheyhavebeenhollowedout，likeothervalleys，bytheactionofwater；butwhenonereflectsontheenormousamountofstone，whichonthisviewmusthavebeenremovedthroughmeregorgesorchasms，oneisledtoaskwhetherthesespacesmaynothavesubsided。Butconsideringtheformoftheirregularlybranchingvalleys，andofthenarrowpromontoriesprojectingintothemfromtheplatforms，wearecompelledtoabandonthisnotion。Toattributethesehollowstothepresentalluvialactionwouldbepreposterous；nordoesthedrainagefromthesummit-levelalwaysfall，asIremarkedneartheWeatherboard，intotheheadofthesevalleys，butintoonesideoftheirbay-likerecesses。Someoftheinhabitantsremarkedtomethattheyneverviewedoneofthosebay-likerecesses，withtheheadlandsrecedingonbothhands，withoutbeingstruckwiththeirresemblancetoaboldsea-coast。Thisiscertainlythecase；moreover，onthepresentcoastofNewSouthWales，thenumerous，fine，widely-branchingharbours，whicharegenerallyconnectedwiththeseabyanarrowmouthwornthroughthesandstonecoast-cliffs，varyingfromonemileinwidthtoaquarterofamile，presentalikeness，thoughonaminiaturescale，tothegreatvalleysoftheinterior。Butthenimmediatelyoccursthestartlingdifficulty，whyhastheseawornoutthesegreat，thoughcircumscribeddepressionsonawideplatform，andleftmeregorgesattheopenings，throughwhichthewholevastamountoftrituratedmattermusthavebeencarriedaway？