132 Remarks on the Physical Geography, i^c, of the 



dent;, and that is, that on the surface of the plains there is a 

 stratum of comparatively modern drift. 



While resting our horses at Mr Rosses, we had also leisure 

 to experiment on the water-yielding Hakea. The first root^ 

 about half an inch in diameter^ and six or eight feet long^ 

 yielded^ quickly and in large drops^ about a wine glassful of 

 really excellent water. Near Mr. Eoss's station^ and all along 

 the edge of the o]pen country^ there is a species of Casuarina 

 that I had never met with before. The bark is smooth, 

 the foliage short and erect, the wood is yellow, and so re- 

 markably soft that, with a small tomahawk, I could cut down 

 a tree a foot in diameter in a few seconds. It makes an ex- 

 cellent fire, burning readily when newly cut. I felt much 

 interest in finding there a tree which I had met with near Peak 

 Downs. I am indebted to Dr. Mueller for its botanical name, 

 Myoporum platycarpum. The dry wood of this tree, split into 

 laths and tied with bark by the natives, I had found on the 

 river Isaacs, last year. Concluding from this circumstance 

 that it possessed good burning qualities, I put the end of a 

 piece into the fire, when it burned like a candle. Upon find- 

 ing it near Mr. Rosses, I applied to it the same test with the 

 same result. 



On the 10th of May we started from Mr. Ross's, with the 

 intention of proceeding north till we got well back into the 

 centre of the country, and then north-east, so as to get a good 

 view of the whole. There was plenty of water in a shallow 

 creek near this station, from recent rains, but we were doubt- 

 ful whether any water could be met with farther north. We 

 went about thirty miles north, over a fine country abounding 

 with saltbush, grass, and herbs; we could, however, find no 

 water, and had to camp without it. It was evident that this 

 locality had been visited by herds of cattle and troops of wild 

 horses, and that these had emptied all the shallow water-holes, 

 and gone elsewhere, for none of their tracks were fresh. Thus 

 disappointed, we resolved to cross to the Lachlan, and make an 

 incursion from thence. We therefore returned to the water 

 by Mr. R^oss's, and next day started for the nearest point of 

 the Murrumbidgee, steering E. 30° S. Por six miles the sur- 

 face is undulating, and there is a general slope of the land 

 towards the south-west. Beyond this point the fall of the 

 country is towards the south, and shallow water-courses pass 

 through the level plains in the same direction. For ten miles 

 the plains are very level and elevated, then they again become 

 iindulating; and, on approaching the Murrumbidgee, there is a 



