Title

The Table Mountain, from the end of Jericho Plains, Van Diemen's Land. [by Joseph Lycett]

Author

Author not identified

Source

[Not applicable]

Publication date

1825

Type

About the work

Language

English

Country of context

Australia

Full text

The Table Mountain, from the end of Jericho Plains, Van Diemen's Land.

THE gentle acclivity, which is seen to the left in this View, is part of one of the lowest points of the high mountainous ground, Called SPRING HILL, over which runs the road from Hobart Town to Port Dalrymple. The plain is part of the JERICHO PLAIN, a rich and fertile tract of land, of very considerable extent, chiefly occupied as pasturage for Sheep and Cattle, by the Settlers who have taken up their grants of land in this part of the Island, and by the inhabitants of Hobart Town and its vicinity. Besides Jericho Plains, there are Westmoreland Plain, Fourteen-tree Plain, and others, all of which afford the finest pasture, and form, together, a most extensive and luxuriant district.

The JORDAN RIVER is a very inconsiderable stream in point of size, but its value and importance in watering the extensive tract of land through which it flows are immense, as it constantly supplies the Cattle grazing in these Plains with water; which article of the first necessity, but for the streams of the Jordan, would in dry weather be scarcely attainable. This useful River has its primitive source in a large Lagoon, or reedy swamp, called LEMON'S LAGOON, from the circumstance of a desperate and very notorious Bush-ranger, of the name of Lemon, having committed many atrocious murders near this spot. This Outlaw was, for a considerable space of time, the terror of all Travellers who passed this way; it being his custom to conceal himself upon some elevated point of land, from which he could command a view of the road, and, as he saw fit opportunity, rush down upon his unprepared victims, to plunder them; and, if the slightest resistance was offered, he instantly murdered them. Happily fin these parts of the Colony, the Bush-rangers, through the vigilance and activity of the Government and the inhabitants, are now quite exterminated. From LEMON'S LAGOON, the Jordan takes its course through the pleasant and fertile Plains of Jericho; it then forms a chain of ponds, and afterwards mingles with another small stream in the rich open country called BAGDAD, and, joining HERDSMAN'S COVE, runs into the River DERWENT.

In the borders of all these Plains, Kangaroos and Emus are numerous; but the traffic of the high road to Launceston and Port Dalrymple, of course, drives them into the adjacent Forests, where they afford most excellent sport. The Bush abounds with Parrots, Paroquets, Cockatoos, and Pigeons; and Wild Ducks frequent the Ponds and Rivulets. The Trees are the Eucalyptus, Casurina, and the other species common in most parts of the Island.

Accompanying text, 1825.