332 COOKOPIE PONDS. [CII. VIII. 



Avhere my route crossed " Goobang" creek. The fact, 

 that the stock of the settlers already extends over all 

 available land, within reach of the present limits of loca- 

 tion, is clearly exhibited by the speedy occupation of these 

 two stations. They are placed on the only two good tracts 

 of land, crossed by our party before we reached the arid plains 

 of the interior. Even my boat depot on the Nammoy, the 

 terra incognita made known only by my first despatch, was 

 immediately after occupied as a cattle-run by the stock- 

 keepers of Sir John Jamieson. 



The Bogan still coming from the south-east, we continued 

 our journey in that directionfor four miles, beyond the cattle 

 station, and then halted. Near this camp, two ] ranches of 

 the Bogan united, and the one which came fi-om the east- 

 ward appeared to contain most water. I calculated that we 

 were within eleven miles of Cookopic ; a pond in our old 

 track, at which we had encamped on the 13th of April, and 

 which bore south-east from this camp. Here we killed our 

 last remaining sheep but one : and it was worthy of remark, 

 that after travelling upwards of 1100 miles, it was found to 

 be fatter and weigh more by two pounds, than any of those 

 which had been previously killed as we proceeded, although 

 the best had been always selected for slaughter. It appears 

 thus how well a wandering and migratory life agrees with 

 sheep in ibis hemisphere, as of old in the other. Ours 

 gave very little trouble, and at length became so tame, 

 that they followed the horses or cattle like dogs. The sheej) 

 were leanest on the Darling, and on their way back their 

 improved appearance was remarkable. 



Sept. 10. — Accompanied by four natives and a boy, we 

 continued our journey, and as my reckoning, since I deviated 

 from our old route, had been by time only, I allowed a black, 

 named "Old Fashioned," and the boy, to guide us to "Cook- 

 opie." In going south-west, we soon crossed the first creek, 

 and for some way could not proceed on the bearing, which 

 led to the other, as the natives pointed, and which had the 

 best pond? in it. At length, its course came more from the 



