repaid by the acquisition of nearly sixty most desirable plants, some of which appeared even to constitute new genera.  The rocks were covered with epidendra [Note:  Of the genera cymbidium and dendrobium of Swartz.], bignoniae, or trumpet-flowers, and clematides, or virgin’s bower, of which last genus three species apparently new were discovered.  Far different was the character of these glens from the rugged and barren blue mountain ranges:  fine open forest land ended abruptly on the precipices.  The bottoms were of the richest soil, the rocks instead of being of a coarse sandstone were of a hard texture, and of a blue shining appearance when broken.  The country eastward of these glens appeared very lofty, and much broken; but as in the direction of our course, we should have some miles of good open country to travel over, we had strong hopes that our difficulties would prove greater in contemplation than reality.  Among the timber in these glens were some of the stateliest stringy bark trees that we had ever beheld:  in fact, the timber altogether is unusually good.  To the south-west and north-west, the country is low and beautifully diversified by long sloping hills.

September 11.—­Our course for near eight miles led us along a broad and very elevated ridge of poor forest land, intermixed with brush; when we were stopped from proceeding farther eastward by the deep chasm or glen, which we had seen at a distance yesterday.  This tremendous ravine runs near north and south, its breadth at the bottom does not apparently exceed one hundred or two hundred feet, whilst the separation of the outer edges is from two to three miles.  I am certain that in perpendicular depth it exceeds three thousand feet.  The slopes from the edges were so steep and covered with loose stones, that any attempt to descend even on foot was impracticable.  From either side of this abyss, smaller ravines of similar character diverged, the distance between which seldom exceeded half a mile.  Down them trickled rills of water, derived from the range on which we were.  We could not however discern which way the water in the main valley ran, as the bottom was concealed by a thicket of vines and creeping plants.  From the range on which we were, we could distinctly see the coast line of hills.  The country between us and the coast was of an equal elevation, and appeared broken and divided by ravines and steep precipices.  We continued along the edge of this ravine southerly for about four miles, when we halted for the day.  Our only hope of being enabled to cross this barrier depends upon our pursuing a southerly course, when if the waters run northerly, the dividing range between them and Hunters River will permit us again to turn easterly.  If on the contrary they run southerly, their junction with Hunter’s River will equally (it is to be hoped) facilitate that object.