The Casuarina, so
common near the limestone ridge of the coast, here disappears, and is
succeeded by a pendulous species of Metrosideros, which continues to the
source of the river.
"From this point," says Mr. Fraser, "the country resembles, in every
essential character, that of the banks of those rivers which fall to
the westward of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, varying
alternately on each bank from hilly promontories of the finest red
loam, and covered with stupendous Angopheras, to extensive flats of
the finest description, studded with magnificent blue and water gums,
and occasional stripes of Accacias and papilionaceous shrubs,
resembling the green wattle of New South Wales."
The higher the river is ascended, the more extended the flats become,
and the better is the quality of the soil. Here the country is said to
resemble in character that on the banks of the Macquarrie River, west
of Wellington valley; and though marks of occasional floods appeared
on the lower plains, the upper flats had evidently never been flooded.
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