62 
CREEK LEADING NORTHERLY, 
last time we crossed it the country rose a few feet, and we 
journeyed for the remainder of the day, at one time over 
good plains, at another through brushes, until we found 
water and feed, at which we stopped for the night, after 
having travelling about thirteen miles on a W. by N. course. 
The mosquitoes were so extremely troublesome at this 
place that we called it Mosquito Brush. At this time my 
men were improving rapidly, and Mr. Hume complained 
less, and looked better. I hoped, therefore, that our pro- 
gress would be rapid into the interior. 
On the 14th we took up a westerly course, and in the 
first instance traversed a plain of great extent; the soil 
of which was for the most part a red sandy loam, but 
having patches of light earth upon it. The former was 
covered with plants of the chenopedia kind ; the latter had 
evidently been quagmires, and bore even then the appear- 
ance of moisture. At about seven miles from Mosquito 
Brush we struck upon a creek of excellent water, upon 
which the wild fowl were numerous. Some natives was 
seen, but they were only women, and seemed so alarmed 
that I purposely avoided them. As the creek was leading 
northerly, we traced it down on that course for about seven 
miles, and then halted upon its banks, which were com- 
posed of a light tenacious earth. Brushes of casuarina 
existed near it, but a tortuous box was the prevailing tree, 
which, excepting for the knees of small vessels, could not 
have been applied to any use, while the flooded-gum had 
entirely disappeared. Some ducks were shot in the after- 
