28 HORSES ASTRAY. [CH. I. 



attention. The bullocks were much fatigued with this day's 

 journey, the thermometer having stood at 96° in the shade, 

 and at sunset, and even during part of the night, it was as 

 high as 90°. 



At twilight, on inquiring, as usual, if the horses had been 

 tethered and spancelled, I was informed that seven had set 

 off, and that one of the men, Wortliington, who went after 

 them, had not returned. The weather had been so oppres- 

 sive during the whole journey, that I determined on resting 

 the cattle next day. This, I did not mention, however, to 

 the men, but I ordered all the good bush hands to be off in 

 search at day-break. The care of cattle, and particularly of 

 horses on such journies, requires great attention ; to stand 

 idle on a fine morning, unable to proceed, until by some for- 

 tunate chance, stray cattle or horses are discovered in a 

 boundless forest, is like a calm on the line, irksome enough ; 

 but there is also the risk of losing the men sent in pursuit, 

 who, even after coming on the objects of their search, may 

 be unable afterwards to find the camp, especially when there 

 may be no water-course to lead thcni to it. 



Dec. 7. — The weather still very sultry. The horses were 

 brought in at a quarter-past eight l)y Wortliington, who had 

 traced them up the valley to two miles above our former en- 

 campment. The rich soil in this valley is nearly as deep as 

 the bed of the rivulet, which is twenty feet lower than the 

 surface; a substratum of gravel, similar to that in the bed of 

 the water-course, appears in the bank ; the pebbles, consisting 

 chiefly of trap-rock, seemed to be the water-worn debris of 

 the Liverpool range. The cattle and horses being at rest, we 

 were occupied this day in making various observations with 

 our instruments, trying the rate of the chronometer, kc. A 

 thunder-cloud and a little rain affoi-ded some relief from the 

 excessive heat of the atmos])here. The night was very calm ; 

 but the musquitoes were numerous and troublesome. 



Dec. 8. — A road or track, which we found about half-a-- 

 mile east from tlie camp, led us very directly, on the bearing 



