202 JOURNEY FROM STREAKY BAY 
the road was somewhat better, and there were many 
intervals of open grassy plains under the hills along 
which we travelled, at a course of E. 17° N. for 
twenty-five miles. Encamping at night with tole- 
rable grass, but without water. There had been a 
considerable pool of rain water here a few days ago, 
but it was now nearly dried up by the sun, and I 
was obliged to order the horses to be watched during 
the night. 
To-day I found a most splendid creeping plant in 
flower, growing in between the ranges, it was quite 
new to me, and very beautiful ; the leaf was like 
that of the vetch but larger, the flower bright 
scarlet, with a rich purple centre, shaped like a half 
globe with the convex side outwards ; it was winged, 
and something like a sweet pea in shape, the flowers 
hung pendent upon long slender stalks, very similar 
to those of sweet peas, and in the greatest profusion ; 
altogether it was one of the prettiest and richest 
looking flowers I have seen in Australia. 
September 23. — Moving on over a firm road, but 
with much scrub and prickly grass, we travelled for 
fifteen miles under the hills at a course of E. 20° N., 
encamping early in the afternoon close under them, 
and procuring a little water left in the hollows by 
the rains. I ascended another of the heights in the 
Gawler range to-day, but could obtain no clear view 
from it, the weather being hazy. Ridge behind 
ridge still appeared to rise to the north, beyond the 
front one under which we were travelling; and 
