22 
deserted by the natives. 
try had assumed a level character, and was more open than 
on the higher branches of the Macquarie, the small free- 
stone elevations, backing the alluvial tracts near the river, 
still continued upon our right, though much diminished in 
height, and at a great distance from the banks. They seemed 
to be covered with cypresses and beef-wood, but dwarf-box 
and the acacia pendula prevailed along the plains ; while 
flooded-gum alone occupied the lands in the immediate 
neighbourhood of the stream, which was evidently fast 
diminishing, both in volume and rapidity ; its bed, however, 
still continuing to be a mixture of sand and clay. 
The cattle found such poor feed around the camp that 
they strayed away in search of better during the night. On 
such an occasion Botheri and his fraternity would have 
been of real service ; but he had decamped at an early 
hour, and had carried olf an axe, a tomahawk, and some 
bacon, although I had made him several presents. I was 
not at all surprised at this piece of roguery, since cun- 
ning is the natural attribute of a savage; but I was 
provoked at their running away at a moment when I so 
much required their assistance. 
Left to ourselves, I found Mr. Hume of the most essen- 
tial service in tracking the animals, and to his perseverance 
we were indebted for their speedy recovery. They had 
managed to find tolerable feed near a serpentine sheet of 
water, which Mr. Hume thought it would be adviseable to 
examine. We directed our course to it as soon as the cattle 
were loaded, moving through brush, and found it to be 
