We have received from Mr James E. Mudge, of Tarana, a description of the Blue Mountains as he found them some 45 years ago. It was in 1860 that Mr Mudge first drove his team over the wilds of the Blue Mountains and recently rode through from Tarana to Sydney and herein describes the changes he noticed since his first visit. Thursday, 27th April, 1905. The morning broke dull and dismal as I continued on my journey on horseback over the Blue Mountains. As I rode I contemplated the scene and remarked the changes that have been wrought in a few years and how the works of man change the aspect of the face of nature. But despite all the changes I could easily recognise the old camps - the remaining landmarks as it were, of old hotels etc. that marked the early road. It is now 45 years since I was engaged in 'carrying' over the Blue Mountains, between Sydney and Bathurst, and as I ride many of the old places recall incidents of those far away times. On arriving at where the 'Big Hill Inn' was then situated and supervised by Mrs Shinningham - it is now known as the foot of Mount Victoria - I recall the fact that it was here that a fellow carrier, the late Richard Bryant, was out one morning mustering his bullocks for the days march when he heard in the distance muffled groans. He naturally thought it was someone in distress - dying probably - and after walking some distance and searching, he found, to his horror and dismay, that the groans proceeded from an unfortunate man who was lying prostrate with a pocket knife driven into his skull. The finder communicated with the nearest police officer, who on arriving on the scene extracted the knife when the unfortunate man expired. He had probably been murdered, but the guilty person was never brought to justice. Then came 'Shepherd's Toll Bar' - the old toll house still stands there and is occupied. This is called the 'top of Mount Victoria Pass'. Then there is 'Soldiers Pinch' which derives its name from the fact that an unfortunate soldier was killed there while the road was being formed. The 'Big Cattle Yard' is now called Blackheath and is converted into - well one might almost say, Eden - lovely flower gardens, artistic buildings. As I reined horse and looked around me all my adjectives of praise were bestowed upon that magnificent panorama before me. After leaving this place I came to where the old police barracks stood, 'Little Blackheath' and 'Whipcord Pinch', where a rustic hotel was erected, and also troughs for the convenience of horse teams. Then came 'Pulpit Hill Hotel', the host being Mr McGregor, then 'Williams' Chimneys' now 'Katoomba'. I next came to the 'Three mile camp', where a man and his five horses met their deaths by an explosion of powder that his load consisted of. 'Weatherboard Creek' came next where Furguson met his death by being struck by lightning. His grave is on the opposite side to 'Norrises' Hotel'. The top of 'Kings Table End' camping ground and the 'Cataract' now 'Wentworth Falls', 'Dunn's Blue Mountain Inn', 'Godfrey's Pinch' and 'Cox's Downfall' where the explorer packed up a heap of stones, became dejected and retraced his steps, hence its name. The 'Eighteen mile Hollow' the 'Police Barracks and Lockup'. The posts are now standing there sentinel like, reminding one of the cruel convict days. I once remember seeing six convicts in chains on their weary march to Darlinghurst to work out their retribution according to the crime committed by the unfortunate men. It is all now converted into a lovely street, well kept gardens, and buildings which point out emphatically that the dexterous architect has been employed in drawing and planning the buildings. This is called Lawson. Then came 'Captain Bull's Camp'. Captain Bull afterwards resided at 'Evan's Crown', Tarana, now owned by Mr C. Austin. A little further on came 'Ellison's Toll Bar' then 'Wascoe's' residence, 'Springwood Ridges' now known as Glenbrook and the 'Valley Inn'. A little distance from where the 'Valley Inn' stood is 'The Ledge of Rocks' where the unfortunate remains of an unknown man were discovered and placed in a coffin, or I should say a substitute for a coffin 'Agin caso' and placed in the large crevice between the rocks. Then came the 'Black log hollow' and 'Lapstone Hill' going down the hill into Penrith there again was 'Wood's Hotel' at the foot of 'Lapstone'. In conclusion I must say I enjoyed my trip immensely over the Mountains which have changed considerably since I travelled them last, but despite the changes, different names etc., everything seemed in a manner of speaking, familiar, and almost every place reminded me of incidents which happened years ago.
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