Regions between the Rivers Lachlan and Darling. 133 



considerable descent from the high plains towards the flats of 

 that river. We were late in getting into camp, and darkness 

 overtook us, but we went on till we saw Avater. Some of the flats 

 near the river were dangerous to ride over, from the number 

 of deep fissures in the ground, caused by descending currents 

 of water washing away the upper soil. In the morning we 

 found ourselves close by the Murrumbidgce, on an old reed-bed, 

 which Avas being slowly submerged by the rising and overfloAV- 

 ing waters of the river. 



We next proceeded up the :Murrumbidgee, and thence up 

 the Lachlan for a hundred miles; but it is unnecessary to 

 refer to that part of our journey. 



On the 22nd of May avc reached the point from wliich we 

 intended to start for the north-Avest. We had just got into 

 camp, about noon, Avhen rain began to fall, and it continued 

 till three o'clock p.m. on the 23rd, filling my pint-pot Avith 

 an inch and a half of water. We now found that the plains 

 were excessively heavy; and as our horses, from their long 

 journey and want of sufiicient grass, had become much re- 

 duced, Ave waited a day to allow the surface to dry. On the 

 25tli of May avc started in a north-Avest direction, from a 

 point on the Lachlan about three miles above Dr. Eamsay^s 

 station. Passing over seven miles of beautiful plains, Avell 

 grassed and sound, and apparently on a IcA^el Avith the banks 

 of the river, we came to a dry creek, lined Avith box and red 

 gum trees ; the bottom of this creek is fifteen feet beloAv the 

 level of the plains. From this point we saw a hill-top bearing 

 N. 8° E. In four miles farther, over a fine plain abounding 

 Avith grass, cottonbush, and some saltbush, Ave reached a sand- 

 hill covered openly with pine trees. Here avc camped for the 

 night, our poor horses enjoying plenty of grass. The hill 

 seen on the prcAdous day bore N. 15° E. 



Next day we passed over twenty miles of excellent plains, 

 abounding with cottonbush, herbs, grass, and saltbush, as Avell 

 as much of the grass that yields a seed like millet. The plains 

 possess numerous Avater-chamiels, most of them without tim- 

 ber, and but a fcAV feet lower than the level of the plains ; 

 all of them have a general south-Avest coui'se. Sandhills, and 

 ridges of sandy ground, lumps of timber, and patches of hop- 

 scrubs afibrd dry beds and shelter for stock. 



Thirty miles from the Lachlan we came to a very large 

 dry creek, from its size and its extensive system of river flats, 

 almost entitled to be called a river bed. It has a general 

 course of W.S.W. For four miles on each side the land slopes 



