206 — HISTORY OF FLOODS IN THE RIVER DARLING. 
Reminiscences in the interior of New South Wales, from ihe 
n of 1864 to Christmas 1874, by Wm. J. Conder, then 
Licensed Surveyor 
Towarps the end of April, 1864, I started from the Lachlan 
K 
River at Gunderbooka, with a view to pastoral settlement on it 
by some ‘Melbourne speculators. 
The Lachlan was then dry, except a few waterholes here and 
there. The supply of water in the back country very uncertain ; 
but with the assistance of an aboriginal, a native of that part of the 
Colony, sufficient for the use of my party was procured. We had to 
travel from water to water guided by the blackfellow in a very 
circuitous course. The water was found in almost every instance 
in small clay pans from 6 inches to a foot in depth, and not much 
better than a puddle as to quality and quantity. There was good 
rough feed for the horses. From Mount Mavebby. about 60 miles 
from the start, it was found necessary to return for supplies. I 
rode back in one day and found the river in a flooded state, but 
not overflowing its banks to any great extent. I was unable to 
place two or three years before and had encountered great hard- 
ships for want of water ; they had no stock on the place except 
one or two saddle horses. They rendered me ever possible 
assistance and the most generous hospitality. With Mr. Peate I 
rode about for So ape mapa from my party exploring the 
count: On these trips w some excellent grazing country 
slightly undulating, but nate aeons at that time. After this 
we got into mulga forest country and saw no more mallee and 
porcupine grass ; the herbage was very luxuriant but the water 
abou e clay d reduced it in quantity, and 
mixed it acca mud so as to be unusable. I left the camp at a 
small watercourse some 80 miles from the Darling, and rode on 
ahead to the river which was then in a very high flood ; it was 
imipoedible to travel the usual road along its banks. I struck the 
river at Gunderbooka, and in going from thence to Nulta Nulta 
on the opposite bank, just above the junction of the Warrego, I 
got into serious difficulties by attempting to cross what appeared, 
