20 
TUGGIONG. 
truth, have found it so ; but. it struck me, that there were 
many rich tracts of ground among the valleys of the 
former, and that the very hills had a fair covering of 
grass upon them. What though the soil was coarse, if the 
vegetation was good and sufficient ? Perhaps the greatest 
drawback to this part of the interior is the want of water ; 
yet we crossed several creeks, and remarked some deep 
water holes, that can never be exhausted, even in the driest 
season. Wherever the situation favoured our obtaining a 
view of the country on either side of us, while among these 
hills, we found that to the eastward lofty and mountainous ; 
whilst that to the westward, had the appearance of fast 
sinking into a level. 
A short time before we reached the Morumbidgee, we 
forded a creek, which we crossed a second time where it falls 
into the river. After crossing it the first time we opened a 
flat, on which the marks of sheep were abundant. In the 
distance there was a small hill, and on its top a bark hut. 
We were not until then aware of our being so near the 
river, but as Mr. O’Brien had informed me that he had a 
station for sheep, at a place called Tuggiong, by the natives, 
on the immediate banks of the river, I did not doubt that 
we had, at length, arrived at it. And so it proved. I went 
to the hut, to ascertain where I could conveniently stop for 
the night, but the residents were absent. I could not but 
admire the position they had taken up. The hill upon 
which their hut was erected was not more than fifty feet 
high, but it immediately overlooked the river, and command- 
