132 DIFFICULT TRAVELLING. [CH. VI. 



transit of the whole by sunset, and fixed our home for the 

 nig'ht on a hard bank of gravel, beside Meadow Ponds, and 

 to my no small satisfaction, on the line of our former track. 

 We had travelled five miles only, but to hit this point, which 

 was exactly at an angle of that route, was a desideratum with 

 me, and we had now before us a line of marked trees leading 

 homewards, and relieving me from all further anxiety as to 

 the line to be pursued. 



The ponds were now united by a stream of beautifully clear 

 water, and were so far difierent from those we had left that 

 morning, in which the water had a clayey or muddy colour. 

 During this day's journey we killed a snake, measuring seven 

 feet in length, and eight inches in diameter; and the fat of 

 this reptile was considered a useful addition to a dish at 

 dinner. In the water-course we found pebbles, similar to 

 those at the last camp. 



Feb. 21 . — Proceeding at an early hour, we now traversed, 

 with satisfaction, the scrub through which, during very hot 

 weather, we had formerly been obliged to cut our way. The 

 ground beyond it was soft, and the labour distressing to our 

 jaded cattle. About three p. m. wx encamped on a rising- 

 ground, where some water, which had fallen during the late 

 rains, had lodged in hollows, in sufficient abundance to satisfy 

 our wants. In respect to this essential article, indeed, the 

 late rains had supplied enough, to leave me more at liberty 

 in the choice of camps. From the site selected here, the 

 view of the mountains to the eastward was rather fine, 

 especially as the ground sloped towards them. Behind us on 

 the west was a dense scrub ; not the most pleasant of neigh- 

 bours, when savage natives were about, 



Feb. 22. — We traversed without much difficulty the plains 

 where wo had, on our advance, halted to make certain repairs; 

 and we next entered the scrub, where I had presented the 

 *^maha\vk to the young native, as a reward for the confi- 

 dence with which he had approached us, when the rest of 

 his tribe foil back. We had not advanced far beyond the 



