MEET WITH THE DRAYS. 
221 
the sand-hills, we likewise passed a creek, and, from the 
flooded or alluvial tracks, got on an elevated sandy country, 
in which we found a beautiful grevillia. From this we 
passed a barren ridge of quartz-formation, terminating in 
open box forest. From it we descended and traversed a 
plain that must, at some periods, be almost impassable. It 
was covered with acacia pendula, and the soil was a red 
earth, bare of vegetation in many places. At its extremity 
we came to some stony ridges, and, descending their northern 
side, gained the base of the hills. They were more exten- 
sive than they appeared to be from our camp; and were 
about six hundred feet in height, and composed of a con- 
glomerate rock. They were extremely barren, nor did the 
aspect of the country seem to indicate a favourable change. 
I was enabled, however, to connect my line of route with 
the more distant hills between the Morumbidgee and the 
Lachlan. We returned to the camp at midnight. 
On the following morning we left our station before 
Hamilton’s Plains. We reached Pondebadgery on the 28th, 
and found Robert Harris, with a plentiful supply of provisions. 
He had everything extremely regular, and had been anxious- 
ly expecting our return, of which he at length wholly des- 
paired. He had been at the plain two months, and intended 
to have moved down the river immediately, had we not 
made our appearance when we did. 
I had sent M'Leay forward on the 20th with letters to the 
Governor, whose anxiety was great on our account. I re- 
mained for a fortnight on the plain to restore the men, but 
