The extensive tract of table-land lying beyond the present colonial boundary to the southward, between the Great Warragong Chain, terminating in Wilson's Promontory, and now called the Snowy Mountains, or Australian Alps, and the mountainous range abutting on the east coast, is also occupied at present by numerous squatters, with large flocks and herds from New South Wales. This elevated tract of country is called Maneira, or Monaroo Plains, and consists of eligible pasture-land of the first quality, very thinly wooded and well watered; forming a square of a hundred miles each side, and consequently containing upwards of six millions of acres, having for its outlet to the eastward the small but convenient and safe harbour of Twofold Bay, about twenty-five miles to the northward of Cape Howe. The nature of the country still farther to the southward, from Cape Howe to Wilson's Promontory, a distance of a hundred and eighty miles, is still unknown. The Snowy River skirting the plains to the westward, and sweeping along the base of the Snowy Mountains, descends into Bass's Straits on this part of the coast, forming numerous cataracts in its course; its embouchure, if I am not misinformed, being sufficiently wide and open to be practicable for colonial vessels.
The extensive tract of picturesque and pastoral
