lations,
with intervening valleys of moderate extent, the surrounding forest
country being generally but thinly timbered, and patches of the forest
stretching at irregular intervals into the plains, like points of land
into a lake. The river Macquarie traverses the whole length of the
district. The plains are situ-ated upwards of 2,000 feet above the
level of the sea, and hence the locality is very temperate and healthy,
forming an occasional retreat for the invalids of the more arid
districts, similar to that of the Neilgherry hills in India. Near
Bath-urst is an extensive lake, the receptacle of the torrents which in
the rainy season pour down from the Blue Mountains. It is from three to
five miles in extent, varying according to the seasons. Much of the
land on its shores has been reclaimed, and brought into cultivation.
Bathurst stands on the verge of the gold fields of New South Wales, to
which we shall afterwards revert.
Paramatta, in
the county of Cumberland, eighteen miles from Sydney, is the seat of
the county executive. It stands near the Paramatta river, which is the
name given to a creek which in reality is the head of the harbour of
Port Jackson. On the first establishment of the place, it was called
Rose Hill, hut with great good taste the more euphonious native name of
Paramatta was restored to it. A small fresh-water river runs through
the town, and falls into the creek above mentioned. The scenery around
Paramatta is very interesting, on which account it is a frequent resort
of the inhabitants of Sydney, steamboats constantly running between
these towns. The main street is above a mile in length, and contains
many excellent buildings.
The
Governor has a country seat at Paramatta; this is a very neat building,
and from the desirableness of the locality, it usually becomes his
residence during a portion of the year. The court-house is a very
handsome building, and numerous others are scattered oyer the town and
neighbourhood. There is also an excellent establishment for female
orphans on the bank of the river. Within half a mile of the town is the
peni-
