208 ASCEND new-year's range. [cH. IV. 



by gestures, asked my permission to depart, and, also, that 

 he might take a fire-stick; and, in going, he said much, 

 which, from his looks and gestures, I understood as expres- 

 sive of goodwill or thanks, in his way. He further asked me to 

 accompany him, till he was clear of the bullocks, and thus 

 he left us. This unfortunate affair arose solely from our too 

 suddenly approaching the Avater-holes, where the tribes 

 usually resort. We had observed the caution, with which 

 those natives, who guided us, always went near such places, 

 by preceding us a good way, and calling out ; I determined, 

 therefore, in future to sound my bugle, where I meant to 

 encamp, that the natives might not be surprised by our too 

 sudden approach, but have time to retire, if they thought 

 proper to do so. 



May 15. — We moved off early, and travelled sixteen miles, 

 when we reached some good ponds on the Bogan ; having 

 passed a remarkable bend in that river, to the westward. 



May 16. — After proceeding a few miles on our route this 

 morning, we saw from a tree, in the skirt of a plain, a range 

 bearing N. .331°. The bends of the creek sent me much to 

 the westward of that direction : and we crossed some rotten or 

 hollow ground, which delayed the carts. On proceeding be- 

 yond this, we came to a fire where we heard natives shouting, 

 and we then saw them running abreast of us, but I did not 

 court a closer acquaintance. Soon after, seeing an extensive 

 tract of soft, broken, or rotten ground before me, I took to 

 the left, in order to gain a plain, where the surface was firm. 

 On reaching this plain, the dogs killed two kangaroos, and 

 a little further the soil changing, became red and firm, with 

 some dry ponds, and though there was little timber, yet I had 

 never before seen several of the kinds of trees. A little before 

 sunset, we reached a slight eminence, consisting of a compound 

 of quartz and felspar, and from it, 1 had a view of New- 

 Year's Range of Ilumo, bearing N. 07°, and of a higher range 

 to the west of it. We finally encamped, without water, on 

 a fine, open, forest flat, about two miles southward of the 

 former range. 



