Regions between the Rivers Lachlan and Darling. 135 



In two and a lialf miles farther we came to anotlier dry 

 SAvamp, covered with box-trees and polyizonum^ when we rc- 

 solvecl to camp, as we could see no timber beyond. The nights 

 were always most bitterly cold, with white frosts, the ther- 

 mometer falling below the freezing point, and we were there- 

 fore careful to seciu'c abundance of firewood to burn opposite 

 to the open end of our tents. 



At this camp I obtained a fine A-iew of the range of hills 

 before mentioned. The various hills bore respectively — N. 

 42° E., N. 40° E., N. 57° E., N. 72° E., N. 7G° E., N. 80° E., 

 and the almost vertical end of the range first seen, N. 86° E. 

 From the outline of some of these hills, exhibiting an inclined 

 plain and an abrupt cliff alternately, I am of opinion that they 

 are hills of a stratified rock. Vast saltbush plains stretched 

 away on our right and left. Some of the plains are very level, 

 and, having a soil of hard blue clay, grow nothing but a stunted 

 saltbush ; but in general there is plenty of cottonbush, herbs, 

 and grass ; in short, it is a fine country for fattening sheep. 



During oiu* next day's stage, avc came again in sight of the 

 Casuarina seen at !Mr Ross's station; numerous clumps break 

 the monotony of the plains ; the soil became more sandy, and 

 grass and herbs more plentiful. Two miles after starting we 

 crossed some rising ground, when we saw before us to the 

 right a long belt of timber stretching south-east and north- 

 Avest. This was a belt of the Casuarina, and towards it the 

 plains seem to slope for at least a mile. In six miles farther 

 we came to an elevated bank, from which Are obtained a AdeAv to 

 the westward and south-west of far greater extent than usual. 

 The Avhole surface seemed to slope again to the south-west. 

 The plains Avere so extensive and so A^ery loose and difficult 

 to travel OA'cr, that if we kept our north-Avest course there Avas 

 no prospect of our being able to reach any timber. AYe there- 

 fore now Avent N. 63° W., and crossing an extensive depres- 

 sion of the ground Avhere the surface was as loose as that of 

 newly-ploughed land, in five or six miles we reached a clump 

 of Casuarina trees. Here were many old camps of the natiA'es, 

 Avho had been there but a short time before. Some vertebrae 

 of snakes lying about revealed both the poverty of the 

 locality in game and the abject condition of its temporary 

 inhabitants. 



Leaving here our horses and our tents and outfit, Ave made 

 a journey on foot. The Aveakness of our horses, and the loose 

 and soft nature of the ground, had prevented us from making 

 long stages, although we frequently relieved them by walking 



