a Trip to Port Phillip. 79 



enabled to obtain an extensive view to the north-east. We 

 travelled in this direction about four miles, and from the 

 summit of the hill we had an extensive view of the country, 

 composing Nos. 3 and 4 and part of No. 8. The country 

 appeared rather thickly wooded towards No. 4, and particu- 

 larly so over No. 8, and we were enabled clearly to trace the 

 course of the river Yarra-Yarra by the white fog rising from 

 it. We then .... on until we came to the 

 chain of ponds, which I had particularly traced through No. 

 9, and the line of which I was then enabled to continue. 

 This chain of ponds I considered to be within a mile of the 

 side line between No. 7 and No. 6. 



The country and pasturage is here very fine, and presents 

 a desirable spot for a homestead. As I intended to come 

 back over No. 1 and No. 2, and within a few miles of this spot, 

 I marked down on the chart two sugar-loaf hills. The weather 

 was exceedingly hot this day and we rested under a blanket tent 

 for several hours at the ponds. In the afternoon we proceeded 

 in a direction across the plain. We then ascended 



a hill, and from the summit obtained one of the most beau- 

 tiful views I ever saw, commanding a full view of the junction 

 near the settlement, of the Bay, Geelong, Yillamanata, and 

 the Barabool Hills. I think it must have been from this 

 spot Mr. Hume had the first view of Port Phillip. After 

 taking observations and the bearings of these several places 

 on the chart, we continued our course over No. 6 until we 

 reached the Salt Water River, or the river Arundel, as called 

 by Mr. Hume. We found the land highly timbered and 

 fully equal to our anticipations as to quality 



suited for an extensive sheep run. We continued our 

 course on the high ground and near the river for about five 

 miles, and then descended into a small marsh near Gam's 

 Corner. 



We this morning crossed the Salt Water River, and took 

 a westerly direction to the summit of a flat-topped hill, which 

 Stewart stated was the hill from which Mr. Batman saw the 

 native fires on his first visit, and which he called Mount 

 . . amo . ? ; we then proceeded over a running stream which 

 nearly No. 5. 



We were detained . 



■, ■ • I told him that as we were 



limited to time it was necessary we should push on, and I 

 proposed that he should mount Stewart's horse, and that 



