The first native who came up to me was a fine specimen of man in an independent state of nature.  He had nothing artificial about him save the badge of mourning for the dead, a white band (his was very white) around his brow.  His manner was grave, his eye keen and intelligent, and as our people were encamping he seemed to watch the moment when they wanted fire, and presented a burning stick which one of the natives had brought, in a manner expressive of welcome, and an unaffected wish to contribute to our wants.  At a distance their gins sat at fires, and we heard the domestic sound of squalling children.  The scene assumed a more romantic character when: 

like a queen came forth the lovely moon From the slow opening curtains of the clouds, Walking in beauty to her midnight throne,*

and the soft notes of The Doctor’s flute fell pleasingly on the ear while the eye was equally gratified by the moonbeams as they shot from the trees, amid the curling smoke of our temporary encampment.  The cattle were refreshing in green pastures.  It was Saturday night, and next day the party was to rest.  We had reached in one month, from Sydney, the plains leading to the Darling, having placed all the mountain ranges behind us, and these reflections heightened our enjoyment of the scene around us, and sweetened our repose.

(Footnote.  Croly’s Gems.)

April 12.

Accompanied by Mr. Cunningham and three men carrying my theodolite, sextant, and barometer, I ascended a summit at the southern extremity of Harvey’s range, and which I had observed particularly from Mount Juson as being the most eligible point to form, in connection with that range, a base for extending the survey westward.  This hill was clear of timber and, as it commanded an uninterrupted view in that direction, I intersected every point observed from Mount Juson.  The highest summit of Canobolas was just visible over the intermediate ranges and, what was also of equal importance, that of the Coutombals.  These ranges, already mentioned in another place, consist of a group of lofty hills situated about 12 miles to the South-South-West of Wellington valley and, being connected with the general survey, enabled me here to fix this station correctly.

MOUNT LAIDLEY.  SPRINGS ON THE SURFACE OF THE PLAINS UNDER CROKER’S RANGE.

As we returned across the lower country towards our camp we observed some places unusually green, and found that this verdure was nourished by springs, the water lying on the surface so that in a season when the beds of almost all streams were dry we watered our horses on an extensive flat of forest land.  Such springs must be of very rare occurrence in this country, for in the course of my journeys I had never before seen any.  The hill thus connected with the survey I named Mount Laidley.

CROSS GOOBANG CREEK.

April 13.

The party moved off at half-past eight o’clock, and at half-past nine it crossed Goobang creek, or chain of ponds.  This channel contained some deep pools, apparently proof against the summer drought.  The Goobang has its sources in the ravines between Harvey’s and Croker’s ranges, the course being towards the Lachlan.  In this and other tributaries of the same river I observed that all the permanent pools were surrounded by reeds.