OH. IV.] BEAUTY OF THE SHRUBS, 205 



without difficulty ; and we encamped near it on a plain, after 

 a journey of fourteen miles. Just as we reached the spot, 

 which I had chosen for the camp, several kangaroos appeared, 

 although we had seen none previously during the day. I 

 hunted them with the dogs while the people were pitching 

 the tents; and the largest was killed some way from our camp, 

 in a scrub ; so that it was necessary to bring two men to carry 

 it home — no bad prize after the party had been living, for 

 some time, on salt provisions. 



May 13. — We started early, and the morning was beau- 

 tifully serene and clear. The shrubs which gracefully fringed 

 the plains were very picturesque in their outline, and the 

 delicate tints of their green foliage contrasted beautifully 

 with the more prevailing light grey tinge, and with white 

 stems and branches ; while the warmer green of one or two 

 trees of Australian " rose-wood," relieved the sober greyish 

 green of the pendent acacia. At 5| miles the river took a 

 westerly bend, the ground on its banks being higher than 

 usual. From a tree at this point, two small hills (supposed 

 to be the " Twins'") bore west-north-west, distant about 

 twelve miles. At 9 miles 35 chains, the south of the Twins 

 bore 258°, distant about four miles ; at 10 miles 28 chains, 

 the southern of the Twins bore 249°, the northern 252°; 

 and w^e encamped on reaching the creek, after a journey 

 of fifteen miles. We had a fine view of the supposed Twins 

 as we proceeded ; and I found water, on making the river, 

 where I wished to encamp. 



May 15.— At daylight we set off for the hills (which I 

 judged to be the Twins of Sturt), distant 8^ miles. I found 

 a group of small hills, composed of quartz rock, the 

 strata of which were highly inclined, and the strike extended 

 north-west and south-east. From the highest, which is the 

 southern hill, I looked in vain for New- Year's range ; the 

 horizon, in that direction, being quite unbroken ; hence I 

 concluded that this could not be the " Twins," and I named it 

 Mount Hopeless. Several remarkable hills appeared, however. 



