REGAIN OUR OLD ROUTE. 
109 
The timber upon the plains, between us and the Darling, 
we found to be a rough gum, but box prevailed in the 
neighbourhood of the creek at this part of it. 
On the 14th, we changed our direction more to the 
southward, but made a short journey, in consequence of 
being obliged to make some slight repairs on the boat 
carriage. 
On the 16th, we kept an E.S.E. course, and, crossing 
the creek at an early hour, got upon our old track, which 
we kept. We had the lateral ridge of the Pink Hills upon 
our right, and travelled through a good deal of brush. 
Four or five natives joined us, and two followed us to the 
end of our day’s journey. In the course of the evening, 
they endeavoured to pilfer whatever was in their reach, but 
were detected putting a tin into a bush, and soon took to 
their heels. This was the first instance we had of open 
theft among the natives of the interior. 
We passed Mosquito Brush on the 18th, but found the 
ponds quite dry, we were, therefore, under the necessity of 
pushing on, to shorten the next day’s journey, as we could 
not expect to get water nearer than the marshes. At noon, 
on the 19th, we entered the plain, and once more saw 
them spreading in dreariness before us. While the party 
was crossing to the first channel, I rode to the left, in order 
to examine the appearance of the country in the direction 
of the wood, and as far as I skirted the reeds had ray im- 
pressions confirmed as to their partial extension. I was 
obliged, however, to join the men without completing the 
