a Trip to Port Phillip. 81 



till daylight, and we then dried our clothes, had some hot 

 tea, crossed the river and proceeded on our journey. We now 

 altered our course, for the purpose of passing between the two 

 hills which I had marked down on the 10th, and we arrived 

 at the spot within a few minutes of the time we expected, so 

 that the ....... 



a beautiful vale, extending 

 apparently several miles to the northward, and extending over 

 part of Nos. 6 and 7. This vale contains about 20,000 acres 

 of the richest quality and of the finest herbage we saw, and in 

 my opinion, superior to any of the land upon No. 9, or any of 

 the sections. We found the continuation of the rivulet, and 

 that it wound round the flat-topped hill, thereby affording a 

 most eligible situation for a homestead. We then continued 

 our course to another hill, near the margin of No. 7, which 

 we ascended, and from this hill we 



course about eight miles across fine feeding land, and came 

 upon a rapid stream of water flowing, like all the other rivers, 

 from the N. to the S. We called this river the river Plenty, 

 as it is the only stream, except the Barwon, deserving the 

 name of a river. We dined at this river, and afterwards 

 proceeded about one mile down it, in order to form an opinion 

 as to its course ; and as we were desirous of reaching, if possi- 

 ble, the river Yarra-Yarra that afternoon, we then crossed 

 the river, and made an easterly course through forest land, 

 about six , . 



We then proceeded 

 about a mile south-east, when we were again stopped by a 

 small stream, and found the land very boggy. After pro- 

 ceeding about half a mile south, and then ascending along a 

 high ridge, we determined to cross, if possible, the stream, 

 and which, after much labour, we accomplished, but finding 

 it impossible to continue our course, and the land between 

 us and the Yarra-Yarra being very heavy and thickly wooded, 

 we . . again to recross. .... 



secure tent to protect us from the wet. 



Feb. 15. — When we awoke this morning, we found to our 

 dismay that the horses, with the exception of one mare, 

 which had been tethered, were missing, and in about an hour 

 Stewart returned, informing us that he had discovered the 

 track, and that the horses were all gone. We were under 



G 



