88 
JUNCTION OF NEW YEAR’S CREEK. 
they increased upon us, although our anxiety, with re- 
gard to the cattle, was happily removed. Mr. Hume, 
with his usual perseverance, walked out when the camp 
was formed ; and, at a little distance from it, ascended a 
ridge of pure sand, crowned with cypresses. Fiom this, 
he descended to the westward, and, at length, struck upon 
the river, where a reef of rocks crossed its channel, and 
formed a dry passage from one side to the other ; but the 
bend, which the river must have taken, appeared to him 
so singular, that he doubted whether it was the same 
beside which we had been travelling during the day. 
Curiosity led him to cross it, when he found a small pond 
of fresh water on a tongue of land, and, immediately after- 
wards, returned to acquaint me with the welcome tidings. 
It was too late to move, but we had, at least, the prospect 
of a comfortable breakfast in the morning. 
In consequence of the doubts that hung upon Mr. Hume’s 
mind, as to the course of the river, we arranged that the 
animals should precede us to the fresh water ; and that we 
should keep close in upon the stream, to asceitain that 
point. After traversing a deep bight, we arrived nearly as 
soon as the party, at the appointed rendezvous. The 
rocks composing the channel of the river at the crossing 
place, were of indurated clay. In the course of an hour, 
the animals appearing quite refreshed, we proceeded on our 
j ourney , and at about four miles crossed New Y ear’s Creek, at 
its junction with the salt river. We passed several parts of the 
main channel that were perfectly dry, and were altogether 
