CH. IV.] TRACES OF CAPTAIN STURT's VISIT. 209 



May 17. — At two miles from our bivouac, we crossed a 

 small rill descending to the south-east, from hills which might 

 be New- Year's range. At 5^ miles we encamped on the 

 Bogan, the most northern but one of five hills, supposed to 

 be the New-Year's range, bearing 240°. From this point 

 the northern extremity of the ridge extending from the hills, 

 bore 25°. At twelve o'clock, I went to these heights, and on 

 the first I ascended, I found several stumps of pine (or callitris 

 pi/ramidalis), which had been cut down with an axe, the remains 

 of them being still visible amongst the ashes of a fire. I Avas 

 thus satisfied that this was the hill on which Captain Sturt's 

 party burnt the trees, when a man was missing. Still, however, 

 a better range to the westward was unaccounted for ; but, on 

 ascending a hill which was still higher, and whose rocky crest 

 was clear of trees, I was able to identify the whole, by the 

 bearings of the high land, as given in Captain Sturt's book, 

 and by the strip of plain visible in the south, which had 

 appeared to that traveller, to resemble the bed of a rapid 

 river. This plain happened to be the one we had crossed the 

 day before, and I had then observed the water-holes, also 

 mentioned, and that they had been long dry. No traces be- 

 sides those already noticed, remained of the visit of the 

 first discoverers of New- Year's rana'e. 



During my absence, three natives had been near the camp, 

 two old men and one very strong and tall young one. They 

 appeared very much afraid, and barely remained to receive 

 the flag of truce (a green branch), sitting with their eyes 

 fixed on the ground, and retiring soon after. I do not think, 

 any water could be found nearer than the Bogan at this time, 

 although I observed hollows between the hills, where it 

 would probably remain some time after rain, and where, I 

 suppose, Captain Sturt's party found it. I made the latitude 

 of the camp to be 30° 26' 24", and that of the hill 30° 27' 

 45" S. 



3Ia2/ 18. — We moved off to the northward, and at seven 

 miles, came upon the river, where there was a reach for about 

 1 p 



