EVANS'S FIRST JOURNAL: JOURNEY TO THE BATHURST PLAINS
Thursday, 9th.
I have called the Main Stream "Macquarie River". At 2½ Miles commences a most extensive Plain, the hills around are fine indeed; it requires a clever person to describe this Country properly. I never saw any thing equal to it; the soil is good; I think the lower parts of the Plains are overflowed at times, but do not see marks to any height; the small Trees on the lower banks of the River stand straight, not laying down as you see them on the banks of the river and Creeks at Hawkesbury. The Grass here might be mowed it is so thick and long, particularly on the flat lands.
distance, 8¼ Miles.
Friday, 10th.
Yesterdays trace led me much North of West; today it is South of it. The extent of the Plain following the River is 11 Miles and about 2 wide on each side, the whole excellent good land, and the best Grass I have seen in any part of New South Wales; the hills are also covered with fine pasture, the Trees being so far apart must be an acquisition to its Growth; it is in general the sweetest in an open Country.
At the termination of the Plain is a very handsome Mount; I named it "Mount Pleasant" from the Prospect it commands to the N.E. The River now winds itself round the Points of Forest hills nearly the same as described some days since.
Emues are numerous; the Dogs will not give chase; I imagine they are bad ones; we have not been able to get a shot at any of the Geese, altho' plentiful, they are so shy; but frequently shoot Ducks. Nothing astonishes me more than the amazing large Fish that are caught; one is now brought me that weighs at least 15 lb., they are all the same species. I call the Plains last passed over "Bathurst Plains"; at the West end of them I obtained the samples No. 4 and 5.
distance, 7¼ Miles.
Saturday, 11th.
The fine pasture continues but there is a great alteration in the look of the Country; finding the River leads me among hills; the points of them end with rocky Bluffs near the water; at about 4 Miles I was brought too by one of them, which appears to be the termination of a Range of high hills from the South, and is the only Mass of Rocks I have met with since leaving the Blue Mountains, but bears a different aspect being covered with Pines; I determined upon halting a few hours that I may be enabled to look about me; I ascended a Peak and find the River turns about N.W. around the points of stupenduous green hills, to the South, and S.W., I cannot discern their end, the tops of the distant ones shew themselves for a great extent; on the North side of the River is also a Ridge of Pasture hills that range Westward, to the East appears the fine Country I came over. I am pleased to find the large hills are covered with Grass nor can I discern any rocky ranges with Pines except the one I am on; they have a very romantic appearance so very different from any other part; the largest of them is about 4 feet in circumference. I am fearful of bad Travelling for a few Miles; it is not so inconvenient to ourselves as the Horses that have such sore backs. The North side looks well, but cannot cross the Water; I found a pass for the Horses and went forward, it is not quite so bad Travelling as I expected; there are many Rocks but the pasture is good.
distance, 6¼ Miles.
Sunday, 12th.
We stop this day, I took a walk for a few Miles to the S.W. and find it a fine country for Pasture, being steep healthy hills thickly covered with grass; Water in almost every Valley.
Monday, 13th.
The Hills are still steep and not quite so fine as those we have passed, they are rather rough with Rocks, yet the pasture is good; the Gums are much larger and intermixed with the Box Tree; the soil is of a stiffer nature, having pieces of Alabaster rock among it; the higher Lands in general throughout have a great deal about them, that on the surface is quite white in some places, and of a Yellow cast in others; I do not know what to make of the River, its course seems so irregular, the direction to day has been from S.W. to N.E.; the hills are so very high and close, that from any one of them its run cannot be distinguished; I have hopes of coming to their end, and be able to judge what part the river leads to. No. 6 is a piece of Rock found here.
distance, 6¾ Miles.
Tuesday, 14th.
The Country is much the same for about 2 Miles; the hills then get steeper and not so good, indeed it is the worst part I have been over since leaving the Blue Mountains; this place resembles the hill about Mount Hunter at the Cow Pastures. I hope we shall soon be through these high lands being bad travelling, and am afraid we shall soon feel the want of Shoes; the River still winds much and forms some very curious bends. No. 7 is found here. Killed a Kangaroo and two Ducks.
distance, 7 Miles.
