CH. IV.] RICH PLAINS. 85 



covered with ducks. It was surrounded with the I'emains of 

 numerous fires of natives, besides which lay heaps of muscle 

 shells (unio), mixed v.ith bones of the pelican and kangaroo. 

 Lat. 29° 43' 3'' S. 



Jan. 17. — Leaving- our encampment at six a. m., we first 

 crossed a small plain, then some forest land, and beyond 

 that entered on an open plain still more extensive, but 

 bounded by a scrub, at which we arrived after travelling 

 seven miles. The soil of this last plain was very fine, trees 

 grewi- upon it, in beautiful groups — the acacia pendula again 

 appearing. The grass, of a delicate green colour, resembled 

 a field of young wheat. The scrub beyond was close, and 

 consisted of a variety of dark-leaved shrubs, among which 

 the eucalypti were almost the only trees to which I was not 

 a stranger. Here I halted the carts, while I penetrated 

 three miles into this scrub, accompanied by Mr. White, in 

 hopes of finding either the Nammoy or the Gwydir — but 

 without success. Continuing the journey in the direction of 

 37° W. of N., we entered an open alley, which had the 

 appearance of being sometimes the bed of a water-course. It 

 terminated, however, in higher ground, where bulrushes 

 grew, and which seemed very strange, because we then ap- 

 proached a much more open and elevated country. Most 

 of the ground was covered with hibiscus* (with red stalk and 

 small flower) which grew to the height of twenty inches, and 

 alternated with patches of luxuriant grass, acacia pendula, 

 and eucalyptus. At eleven miles, we encountered a channel, 

 in which were many ponds, its direction being, like that of 

 the others we had crossed, to the southward of west. Here 

 we encamped, the bullocks having been much fatigued, and 

 also cut in the necks by the yokes. The bed of these ponds 

 was soft, and it required some search before a good place 

 could be found for the passage of our carts: when this was 



* Hibiscus (Trionum) tridactylites, (Lindl. MS.); annuus, pilosus, foliis 

 radicalibus subrotundis integerrimis caulinis digitatis ; laciniis pinnatifidis lobis 

 distantibus cuneatis apice dentatis, calyce piloso. 



