42 
ROCKY RIVER. 
rich and extensive plains, stretching far away to 
the northward, and taking a nearly north and south 
direction under CampbelFs range ; in the upper part 
of these plains is the deep bed of a watercourse with 
water in it all the year round, and opposite to which, 
in lat. 33° 14' S. is a practicable pass for drays through 
CampbelFs range, to the grassy country to the 
eastward. 
June 27. — In crossing the southern extremity 
of these large plains, we came suddenly upon a small 
party of natives engaged in digging yams of which 
the plains were full ; they were so intent upon their 
occupation that we were close to them before they 
were aware of our presence ; when they saw us they 
appeared to be surprised and alarmed, and endea- 
voured to steal off as rapidly as they could without 
fairly taking to their heels, for they were evidently 
either unwilling or afraid to run ; finding that we 
did not molest them they halted, and informed us 
by signs that we should soon come to water, in the 
direction we were going. This I knew to be true, 
and about three o’clock we were in front of a water- 
course, I had on a former journey named the “ Rocky 
river,” from the ragged character of its bed where 
we struck it. 
We had been travelling for some distance 
upon a high level open country, and now 
came to a sudden gorge of several hundred feet 
below us, through which the Rocky river wound its 
course. It was a most singular and wild looking 
