259 



kindled by the natives, with quantities of Chestnuts [Castan- 

 ospermum,) and native Tarra, {Caladium glycyirhizoti,) in 

 the process of roasting, and a considerable portion not yet 

 prepared. A semicircle of stones is formed round each of 

 these fires, over which two-thirds of the fire-wood is allowed 

 to project, evidently for the purpose of cooking the fruit in 

 the hot ashes. On seeing us approach, the people fled. I 

 observed much variety in the construction of their huts, all 

 of which were covered with grass. On a small detached 

 conical hill, close to our encampment, the natives remained, 

 apparently watching us. At four o'clock, we ascended this 

 hill, which we found to be of basaltic formation; many of 

 the columns measured seven feet of external length, their 

 prisms perfect, both hexahedral and tetrahedral, with con- 

 fused masses lying between them. Among these I found 

 Polypodium diversifolium, Br. 



In our descent, we surpi'ised a native lying concealed under 

 a log of wood, in the apparent hope of finding an opportunity 

 to secure the provisions and implements which they had left 

 behind in their encampment. He was dreadfully alarmed, 

 and as soon as he got clear of us, precipitated himself into 

 the river. Latitude 28" 06' 19" South, being exactly in the 

 parallel of Point Danger, and Mount Warning, and Mount 

 Dumaresq, on the borders of the Darling Downs. Evening 

 exceedingly cold, with stormy breezes and showers from the 

 south-west. 



July ^\st. — The cold was piercing this morning as we pur- 

 sued our journey up the valley. I went, accompanied by 

 Capt. Logan, to the summit of a lofty hill (Mount Edgar) 

 immediately west of our last encampment, from which the 

 view was particularly grand ; the supposed Range of Mount 

 Warning, (the correctness of whose situation we now began 

 to doubt,) showed to great advantage, as did many of the 

 peaks in the Dividing Range. In the north and north-east 

 appeared the vale of the Brisbane and Sir Herbert Taylor's 

 Range, the low hills in the immediate vicinity of Brisbane 

 Town, and the low ranges on the shores of Moreton Bay, 

 and Birnam Hill with its pine- clad summit, which, from its 



