CH. VIII.] HOT WINDS. 319 



plains, where all surrounding trees and shrubs seemed dif- 

 ferent from those of other countries, the Agrostis virginica 

 of Linngeus, a grass common throughout Asia and America, 

 but new to me in Australia, grew near the scrubs. Here also 

 grows a new species of Eleusine, being a very tall nutritious 

 grass. * 



Aug. 24, — Retracing still our former steps, we reached a 

 pond on the Bogan, 83 miles short of our camp of May 12. 

 There, I fixed the camp in open ground, and near good grass, 

 with the intention of resting for two days ; this repose having 

 become absolutely necessary, for the purpose of refreshing 

 our exhausted cattle. 



Aug. 25. — Being near the route of Mr. Hume, when he 

 proceeded westward from Mount Harris, and crossed two 

 creeks, of which the Bogan w^as one ; I was desirous of ascer- 

 taining the source of the other, whose channel he had found, 

 intermediate, between this river and the Macquarie. Being 

 occupied in completing my plans of the Darling, preparatory 

 to my immediate return to the colony, I instructed Mr. 

 Larmer to proceed on a survey of that creek, by tracing from 

 our next camp (that of May 12), on a bearing of 102° E. of 

 N., until he reached it, and then to follow it up. Mr. Larmer 

 took with him five men, and a week's provisions, also a copy 

 of our recent survey of the Bogan, with Mr. Oxley's Mac- 

 quarie ; and I instructed him to rejoin the main party at 

 Cudduldury, the camp where 1 calculated we should arrive, 

 about the probable time of his return. 



Aug.2Q. — The morning was calm, but about noon a hot 

 wind set in, blowing very strongly from the north-north-west, 

 the thermometer stood at 86°, but by sunset at 80°. I had 

 been sensible of a parching and unseasonable dryness and 

 warmth in the winds, from that quarter, throughout the winter, 

 while farther in the interior ; and it may be inferred, from 



* E. marginata, (Lindl. MSS.) ; culmo tereti glabro, foliis glabris, ligiil^ 

 nulla, spicis digitatis strictis, spiculis subsexfloris, palea inferiore carinata nui- 

 cronat^ marginata. 



