CH. 111.] REACH THE RIVER GWYDIR. 73 



found tlieir way to the camp, although they had not succeeded 

 in their search for water. 



From this camp, the summits of the Nundawar range were 

 still visible, and very useful in determining our longitude. 

 One cone in particular (Mount Riddell) promised from its 

 height to be a land-mark still on these northern plains^ 

 (See outline of summits as seen on \2th January, page 79.) 



Jan. 9. — Continuing our journey at half-past five a.m. 

 over the clear plain, we came upon several ponds, distant not 

 more than a mile, from where we had passed the night. We 

 lost no time in watering the cattle and proceeding. At half 

 a mile beyond, I perceived on the right, some very green 

 grass by the edge of a hollow, overhung by spreading 

 eucalypti. I found there a fine lagoon of considerable extent, 

 and brim-full of the purest water. There were no reeds, but 

 short grass grew on the brink, and near the shore a few 

 water-lilies. Here we filled our keg and kettles. We 

 next crossed some slightly rising ground, and high in the 

 branches of the trees, I perceived, to my astonishment, dry 

 tufts of grass, old logs, and other drift matter ! I felt con- 

 fident that we were at length approaching something new, 

 perhaps the " large river," the "Kindur" of the bushranger. 

 On descending by a very gentle slope, a dark and dense 

 line of gigantic, blue gum trees (eucalypti), growing amid 

 long grass and reeds, encouraged our hopes, that we had at 

 length found the " big river." A narrow tract of rich soil 

 covered with long grass, and seared with deep furrows, 

 intervened. I galloped over this, and beheld a broad silvery 

 expanse, shaded by steep banks and lofty trees. In this 

 water, no current was perceptible, but the breadth and 

 depth of channel far exceeded that of the Nammoy. Never- 

 theless this was not the " Kindur," as described by the 

 Barber, but evidently the Gwydir of Cunningham, as seen 

 by him at a higher part of its course. We were exactly in 

 the latitude of the Gwydir, the course of which was also 

 westward. It was, however, a very new feature of the 



