APPENDIX. -NO. V. 
211 
terminate, though the country subject to inundation from 
the river is of a very considerable extent, as shewn by the 
w’ithered bullrushes, wet reeds, and shells, that are scat- 
tered over its surface. 
Having executed the first part of the instructions with 
which I had been honoured, I determined on pursuing a 
west, or north-west course into the interior, to ascertain the 
nature of it, in fulfilment of the second, but in doing this 
I was obliged to follow creeks, and even on their banks 
had to carry a supply of water, so uncertain was it that we 
should meet with any at the termination of our day’s 
journey, and that what we did find would be fit to drink. 
Our course led us over plains immediately bordering the 
lower lands of the Macquarie, alternating with swamp oak, 
acacia pendula, pine, box, eucalyptus, and many other 
trees of minor growth, the soil being inclined to a red loam, 
while the plains were generally covered with a black scrub, 
though in some places they had good grass upon them. 
We crossed two creeks before we made the hills Mr. Hume 
had ascended, and which he called New Year’s Range. 
Around these hills the country appeared better — they are 
oentle, picturesque elevations, and are for the most part, 
covered with verdure, and have, I fancy, a whinstone base, 
the rock of which they are composed being of various sub- 
stances. I place New Year’s Range in lat. 30“ 21', 
long. 146“ 3' 30". Our course next lying north-west along a 
creek, led us to within twenty miles of the hill that had 
terminated my excursion, and as I hoped that a more 
leisurely survey of the country from its summit would open 
something favourable to our view, I struck over for it, 
though eventually obliged to return. From it Mr. Hume 
r 2 
