The iron gang employed upon this pass was just leaving for dinner when we passed, so we availed ourselves of the opportunity to visit the barracks, to see them mustered, and the messes served out. The clothes of these men were in bad condition, from the quarry work, in which most of them were employed; but as far as their personal state was concerned, they appeared plump and thriving. The barrack was a temporary stockade, in which the bark huts were situated, and around these a barricade was erected, outside which sentinels were stationed. It was miserable to see these men in so degraded a state, who, banished for crimes from their native land, subject themselves to a second punishment, when, by good conduct, they could become, not only useful members of society, but attain independent and comfortable circumstances for life. Having left the Blue Mountain range by this splendid pass, the features of the country were not found to be materially changed, excepting the occasional appearance of granitic masses, and several trees and plants not seen on the Sydney side of the range. One species of _Banksia_ was very abundant, its foliage resembling that of the rosemary, (_B. rosmarinifolia_?) and the subgenus of the _Eucalyptus_ with white and opposite leaves, which contain a large quantity of camphorated oil, was now abundantly seen, as well as _Lobelia_, _Gnapthalium_, and other flowering plants. At noon we arrived at Collet’s inn, were we refreshed ourselves and horses, after a long ride of twenty-two miles from the “Weather-boarded Hut.” About two P.M. we proceeded on our journey to visit “Dabee,” an estate, the property of our travelling companion, Mr. Edward Cox. The road we had to pass was not of the most agreeable description “either for man or horse,” having a descent into deep vallies, and a corresponding ascent up steep acclivities; but, fortunately for travellers, Major Mitchell is again at work with his gangs, and a road, in spite of all obstacles, is rapidly progressing; avoiding all the rough places we had now to pass, and also affording a more direct as well as pleasing route. To myself and fellow-traveller, the observation of, “We shall soon pass over some of Major Mitchell’s line of road,” was a certainty, as far as it might be completed, that it would be good, and the result always verified the correctness of the opinion we formed on this subject.