The plains and hills were both thinly wooded, and curving lines of shady trees marked out the courses of numerous streams.

Since I have visited this spot I have traversed large portions of Australia but have seen no land, no scenery to equal it.

We were upon the confines of a great volcanic district, clothed with tropical vegetation, to which the Isle of France bears a greater resemblance than any other portion of the world which I am acquainted with.

The rocks in both places are identical; many of the trees are also the same; and there are several other close and striking points of similarity.
DESCENT FROM THE SANDSTONE RANGE INTO THE LOW COUNTRY.
The descent into the lowlands, being very difficult, occupied us nearly two hours; we then gained the bed of a ravine, in which ran a clear stream: the ravine gradually widening out as we reached the plains.

I proceeded directly down it in the direction of a lofty peaked hill which bore to the westward of south; and, having gained a shoulder of this hill, we halted for the night.
Immediately above us a perfectly conical peak raised its head to the height of at least five hundred feet;* this hill was covered with rich grass, and there could be no doubt that it was of volcanic origin, for the rock of which it was composed was a vitrified lava resembling that of Ascension.