Interior of New Holland. 
353 
journey, with a view to avoiding the same distressing road. When 
we again stopped to rest the bullocks, they drank sparingly of 
the water, notwithstanding that it smelt strongly ; but I do not 
think they would ever have reached their destination if the wind 
had not shifted and a misty rain fallen, which did nothing more 
than wet the herbage. It was enough, however, to refresh the 
cattle, and was not the only instance we had had of the watchful 
superintendence of that Providence, by whose goodness we were 
ultimately permitted to overcome the difficulties by which we 
were surrounded. The second night closed in upon us, but not 
with the exhausting heat of the previous night, and the animals, 
under the influence of a cooler temperature, stepped out, as if 
they knew the poiut at which they would have relief. 
We shortened our journey some eight or ten miles by the new 
line we took; but were obliged to halt when the moon set, as it 
was then too dark for us travel. At 6 a.m., of the 9tli, however, 
having given the men time to breakfast, we again moved on ; and 
at half-past two halted for a short time, being then twenty-six 
miles from Flood’s Creek. At six p.m. I left Mr. Browne in 
charge of the party, and being fatigued pushed on the cart, and 
reached our destination at midnight. The teams came up at 3 
p.m. of the 10th. Thus this, our first stage, took us two days 
and three nights; but we brought every animal safe on. Both 
men and animals, however, required rest after such a journey, and 
I consequently halted on the 11th. But at this anxious moment, 
when we were still 160 miles from the Darling, I could not indulge 
either Mr. Browne or Flood, I sent them on about one o’clock to 
ascertain if there was still water in the rocky glen, distant forty- 
nine miles. I started to follow them on the 12th, and met Mr. 
Browne on his return. He had, as 1 had anticipated, found 
abundance of water in the rocky gully, which we reached at 3 a.m. 
on the 14th. Resting here all that day, we started on the follow¬ 
ing day to ascend the ranges, and by three o’clock had left the 
desert behind us. On the 17th we encamped at Coonbarella 
Pass, at one of the brackish water-holes, all the others being dry; 
and from that overlooked the plains of the Darling. We had 
found a large tribe of natives, but they did not in any way annoy 
