190 
WEDGE HILL. 
were, however, seen, but a fire still burning was 
found where we encamped for the night. 
On the 30th we remained stationary to rest the 
horses, and to try and recover the lost dog, but after 
a long and fruitless search, we were obliged to give 
up the attempt. 
On the 31st, after crossing a ridge under which 
we were encamped, we passed through a very pretty 
grassy and park-like country, and what was very 
unusual, not stony on the surface. There were in 
places a great many wombat holes, but these were 
now all occupied by their tenants, and the whole as- 
pect of the country was more encouraging and cheer- 
ful ; the extent of good country was, however, very 
limited. Towards the coast was a low scrubby-look- 
ing region with salt lakes, and to the east it was 
bounded by a dense brush, beyond which were ex- 
tensive plains of a barren and scrubby appearance. 
In the midst of these plains were large fields of a 
coarse wiry-kind of grass, growing in enormous 
tufts, five or six feet high, and indicating the places 
where swamps exist in wet seasons ; these were 
now quite dry, but we had always found the same 
coarse-tufted grass growing around the margins of 
the salt lakes, and in those places also where we had 
found water. This description of country seemed 
to extend to the base of Wedge Hill, which I in- 
tended to have ascended, but the weather was too 
cloudy to obtain a view from it. The character of the 
country to the north and north-east was equally 
