Page:Australia, from Port Macquarie to Moreton Bay.djvu/146

 all these classes of rock furnish, by their decomposition, a much more fertile surface soil than sandstone.

Secondly, The general mountainous nature of the country, the very great altitude of the mountains, exceeding six thousand feet above the level of the sea, and their proximity to the coast. These mountains accumulate and condense the vapours from the sea, and occasion frequent rains; they also mitigate the scorching heat of the hot winds from the north-west, which are so severely felt in Sydney, although that city is so much farther south.

Thirdly, The abundance of water everywhere, and the great number of navigable rivers in close proximity to each other. Thus from Moreton Bay to the Manning river, the southern boundary of the county of Macquarie, which is not more than two hundred and seventy miles along the coast, there are no less than nine rivers with bar harbours, which can be entered by coasting vessels and small steamers; viz. the Brisbane, the Tweed, the Richmond, the Clarence, the Bellengen, the MacLeay, the Hastings, Camden Haven creek, and the Manning.

Lastly, The adaptation, for the culture of tropical productions, of the rich alluvial soil on these