to the south, and some distant summits were visible to the south-east.  Continuing an east course, lava became more frequent, and at length covered the whole surface.  At 2.30 p.m. came on several streams of lava, forming ridges of rugged rocks, which were crossed with difficulty.  These streams of lava appeared to have run from north to south, the thickness twenty to thirty feet, and breadth very variable.  The level ground was lightly timbered with ironbark and box.  At 5.25 turned to the south-east, following a small gully.  Passed a small native well; but very little water in it, and the rock prevented it being enlarged.  At 6.15 camped near some large rocks, in which five or six gallons of rainwater had collected.  Walking down the creek one and a half miles in search of water, found two small pools of rainwater; but the darkness of the night and broken nature of the ground prevented the party moving to them.

14th October.

Moved the camp to the waterholes found last night, one and a half miles down the gully.  The country is here granite formation, undulating and moderately grassed, and wooded with box and ironbark.  The day was cloudy, but cleared at night, and I took sights for time, latitude, and lunar distance.  Chronometer 2287 would not wind up in the morning, and stopped during the day, but, having run down, wound again without difficulty.

Longitude by lunar distances 144 degrees 33 minutes 15 seconds; latitude by e Pegasi 18 degrees 41 minutes 38 seconds; variation of compass 5 degrees 50 minutes east.

15th October.

Resumed our journey at 7.0 a.m., and followed the course of the creek to the south-east.  The north-east side was a plain of lava, and the south-west consisted of granite ridges with sandstone on the summits.  Several small creeks joined from the south-west, and increased the principal channel considerably.  At 10.0 the country was more level and openly timbered with box and bloodwood; grass was abundant and green, owing to heavy rains, which appear to have been accompanied with hail, as the west-north-west sides of the trees were much bruised and the soil indented, and a great portion of the leaves torn from the trees.  At 1.15 p.m. camped on a small tributary creek.  The country appears to be chiefly granite and mica schist, with thin beds or streams of lava, which have come from the ranges to the north and advanced to various distances into the more level land.  The surface of the lava is more thinly wooded and better grassed than the granite; but the roughness of the surface and scarcity of water rendered it less convenient travelling.  From one of the higher ridges we had a wide but imperfect view of the country.  The air being hazy, only a few of the marked features of the ranges to the north were visible; to the east a high hill twenty-five miles distant rose beyond an undulating wooded country.  At 6.0 a heavy thunderstorm caused the creek to run for several hours.