196 PASS THE >fIGHT WITHOUT WATER. [CH. III. 



miles, the first eight through thick scrub, we came into a 

 more open and elevated country, where we saw pigeons, a 

 sign that water was not distant, on some side of us. The hills 

 were covered with a quartzose soil, containing angular frag- 

 ments. The callitris pyrarnidalis, and the stirculia hetero- 

 phylla were among the trees. At 19 miles we crossed some 

 dry ponds, in open forest ground, and we then continued 

 along fine flats for five miles more, when we again intersected 

 the dry bed of the creek. Still pursuing the same direction, 

 and having the water-course near us on the left, we passed 

 (at the distance of 26 miles) some native fires ; but I was too 

 anxious to examine the country before me, to stop, although 

 I saw some of the natives seated by them. We soon after 

 ascended a low ridge of mica-slate ; beyond which we came 

 again on the dry creek, and after crossing it several times, 

 we finally lay down, for the night, in its bed (which afforded 

 the best grass), 33 miles from the party at Cuddukkuy. 

 Altkough this water-course was perfectly dry throughout, yet 

 it was an interesting feature, in a valley enclosed on each 

 side by undulating hills of mica-slate ; and I thought of con- 

 tinuing in its course next morning, in hopes, it might, at last, 

 lead to some chain of ponds falling westward. 



May 4. — Our horses had fared but indiiferently as to grass, 

 and they had no water until this morning, when we spared 

 to each about half a gallon, of what Ave carried ; but this 

 supply seemed only to make them more thirsty. As soon as 

 it was clear day-light, we continued in the direction of the 

 creek ; but, although its bed deepened, and at one place 

 (much trodden by the natives), we discovered a hole, which 

 had only recently dried up, still we found no water. Fur- 

 ther on, tlie recent marks of the natives and their huts also 

 were numerous ; but how they existed, in this parched coun- 

 try, was the question ! We saw, that around many trees, 

 the roots had been taken up, and we found them without the 

 })ark, and cut into short clubs or billets, but for what purpose 

 we could not then discover. At eleven o'clock, I changed my 



