120 REGAIN THE OPEN PLAINS. [CH, V. 



such as we perceive in birds elsewhere, to conceal their 

 nests, was here apparent, nor was it required ; but such nests 

 must have fallen an easy prize even to very little boys, had 

 there been any ; so that tbe security these birds enjoyed, 

 seemed truly characteristic of the desert, and absence of birds 

 of prey. 



The party arrived at the old camp by Pelican Ponds, early 

 in the day. Here, as the men were grooving weak, I found it 

 necessary to restore to them the full allowance of rations, 

 especially as they could no longer derive any support from 

 the hope of making great discoveries, for no travellers could 

 have felt more zealous in the cause, than these poor fellows 

 had done throughout the journey. 



Feb. 12. — Our way to the next encampment, was long, 

 and great part of the ground full of holes, and unfavourable 

 for travelling. Indeed, I considered it the worst portion of 

 country, interveningbetween us and the Liverpool range. This 

 was precisely, where the effect of rainy weather on the soil, 

 was to be most dreaded, and, after having been so long ex- 

 posed to be cut off in these low levels, from any higher 

 ground, by floods; the lowering character of the sky, now 

 that we were about to emerge, only rendered me more im- 

 patient to see the hills again. We accordingly set off at a 

 very early hour, and after travelling seven miles, we halted 

 for ten minutes to water the cattle at some ponds, where, 

 as the weather was uncommonly warm, the men were also 

 refreshed with some lime-juice mixed with the water. The 

 cattle came on very steadily afterwards, notwithstanding the 

 heat. 



The blue summit of Mount Riddell, at length arose above 

 the horizon, and was as welcome as the sight of land, after 

 a long voyage. 



When we had proceeded about half-way to the next 

 camp, we discovered that we were followed closely by a 

 lunnerous tribe of natives. One of our men having dr()])ped 

 l)chind, fell in vvitli them, and was neaily detained by a fellow 



