HUME AND HOVELL'S OVERLAND JOURNEY 57 



upon the prospect of roast kangaroo to supplement their rations ; 

 the cattle were mostly lamed, the horses were skeletons, and the 

 disheartened band wanted to turn back before everything failed 

 them. Hume argued the point vigorously, without, he says, re- 

 ceiving any support from Hovell ; but finally he was fain to make 

 a compromise. He felt so sure, from the altered character of the 

 vegetation, that they were approaching the sea, that he agreed to 

 turn back if they did not make the coast in the next three or four 

 days. Next day they crossed the Big Hill, travelling sixteen miles 

 south by east, and on the following day found an easy route over 

 meadow-like country, in the midst of which they came upon an 

 isolated bald hill which they called Eland's Mount. From this 

 summit, which still bears the name and stands a little to the north 

 of Beveridge, they were gladdened by the prospect of open park-like 

 undulating plains, extending as far as they could see to the south- 

 west. They kept on crossing two or three creeks, probably the 

 upper reaches of the Salt Water Eiver and some of its tributaries, 

 and on the evening of the third day, the 15th of December, after 

 a tramp of twenty miles across an open, trackless plain, came upon 

 the banks of the largest river they had met since crossing the 

 Goulburn, where they camped for the night. This they named 

 the "Arndell," believed now to be identical with the Salt Water 

 Eiver. They crossed it easily the next morning by fording, and 

 continued their south-west course over the plains for about six 

 miles, when suddenly the distant shimmer of a vast sheet of water 

 broke upon their delighted gaze. They altered their course to the 

 south, and by four o'clock in the afternoon their goal was won 

 they stood upon the beach of Port Phillip Bay. The water near 

 the shore abounded in ducks and black swans, the exhausted larder 

 was replenished, and though they were unsuccessful in finding 

 a fresh-water creek, they camped for the night with abundant 

 provisions and exhilarated spirits in the shelter of a small wood 

 about a mile from the beach. The next morning broke with a 

 westerly gale and rain, but they were suffering for want of water 

 and had to start. After an hour's search they found a creek of 

 clear fresh water, surrounded by abundance of good grass for the 

 stock. Here they agreed to camp for a day's rest, to recruit the 



