CHAPTER 111. 



Fires in the bush — Rocks of Bullabalakit — Boat launched — Bees load my rifle 

 with honey — Embark on theNammoy in canvass boats — Impediments to the 

 navigation — Boat staked, and sinks — The leak patched — She again runs foul 

 of a log — Provisions damaged — Resolve to proceed by land — Pack up the 

 boats, and continue the journey — Pass the western extremity of Nundawur 

 Range — Unknown tree — Water scarce — Providential supply — Cray-fish — 

 Traphill on plains — Cut through a scrub — Meet a tribe of natives — Again 

 obliged to cut our way — Fortunate discovery of water — Dry vallies — Mount 

 Frazer — The party in distress for want of water — Water found next day — 

 Ducks — Wheel Ponds — Excessive heat and drought — Description of the 

 woods — Meet with natives — Cross the dry bed of a river — A friendly native 

 with his family — No water — Reach the Gwydir — Cross it with one man — Pre- 

 vented by a native with spears from shooting a kangaroo — Re-cross the river. 



Dec. 23. — This morning all hands were at work. Some 

 good pine-trees were brought to the saw-pit, and one laid 

 upon it. The sailors were set to paint the inside of the can- 

 vass for the boats ; the "doctor" to clear out the dock, previous 

 to laying down the keel, &c. ; and the bullock-drivers and 

 smith to make a stock-yard. At 11 a.m. I discovered the 

 grass near our tents to be on fire, but with the assistance of 

 the people, it was fortunately extinguished. All the country 

 beyond the river was in flames, and indeed, from the time 

 of our arrival in these parts, the atmosphere had been so ob- 

 scured by smoke, that I could never obtain a distinct view of 

 the horizon. The smoke darkened the air at night, so as to 

 hide the stars, and thus prevented us from ascertaining our 

 latitude. One spai'k might have set the whole country on our 

 side in a blaze, and then no food would remain for the cattle, 

 not to mention the dano'er to our stores and ammunition. Fires 

 prevailed fully as extensively, at great distances in the inte- 

 rior, and the sultry air seemed heated by the general confla- 

 gration. In the afternoon, I took my rifle and explored the 

 course of the I'iver some miles downwards, an interesting 



