186 MR. Cunningham's track found. [ch. hi. 



This hill consisted of a rock j-eseinbling- felspar, and was 

 connected with the former, which was of granite, by low hills 

 consisting- of schistus and trap. The former had good grass 

 about it, and produced a chain of well-filled ponds, but here 

 we found no water, having arrived so late. The country in 

 general was, (in point of grass at least) much better than the 

 rotten ground on the banks of the Bogan. The water also, 

 although scarce, was much better, and I heartily regretted, 

 that it was not in my power to proceed, according to my 

 original plan, along this higher ground, in my progress 

 towards the Darling. 



April 2.3. — Early this morning, I ascended the hill, al- 

 though much incommoded by my sprained ankle, which 

 obliged me to ride my horse over rocks, to the very summit. 

 I could perceive no more smoke. The Canobolas were just 

 visible to the right of Mount Juson. The height on which I 

 stood, seemed to be the furthest interior point of this chain, 

 whence those hills could be seen. We left the summit at nine 

 o'clock, and proceeded towards our route on a bearing of 

 N. 17° E. At ten miles, we halted to allow the horses to 

 pick some green grass in a casuarina scrub ; and then, after 

 riding two miles further, we reached our marked route, at 

 about three miles back from Bullock creek. We saw no 

 traces on it, of the men I had sent back, for which I was at 

 a loss to account ; but I readily turned every circumstance, 

 even my own ill success, in favour of the expectation, that I 

 should find Mr. Cunningham in the camp on my return : 

 thus hope grew even out of disappointment. There, however, 

 I learned, that the two men sent back, had at length found 

 Mr. Cunningham's track, exactly where we had at first so 

 diligently sought for it, and that they had traced it into the 

 country, which I had twice traversed in search of him in 

 vain, and, more distressing than all, that they had been 

 (•oinj)elled to leave the track the preceding evening for want 

 of rations ! Tiity had been, however, sent back to take it 

 up, and we anxiously awaited llie result. 



Ajnit 24. — Late in the evening the two men, (the Doctor 



