They followed us however carrying the kangaroo, until they came to a bend of the Bogan where they suddenly disappeared.  We finally encamped on an open plain with tolerable pasture, and near a waterhole in the river bed.

The evening was cloudy for the first time since I had been with the party from the commencement of the expedition; and a smart shower fell during the night.

KANGAROOS NUMEROUS.

May 12.

We set off early, travelling over rather open ground so that we were able to pursue the river course without difficulty, and we encamped near it on a plain, after a journey of fourteen miles.  Just as we reached the spot which I had chosen for the camp, several kangaroos appeared, although we had seen none previously during the day.  I hunted them with the dogs while the people were pitching the tents; and the largest was killed some way from our camp, in a scrub; so that it was necessary to bring two men to carry it home—­no bad prize after the party had been living, for some time, on salt provisions.

BEAUTY OF THE SHRUBS.

May 13.

We started early and the morning was beautifully serene and clear.  The shrubs which gracefully fringed the plains were very picturesque in their outline, and the delicate tints of their green foliage contrasted beautifully with the more prevailing light grey tinge, and with white stems and branches; while the warmer green of one or two trees of Australian rosewood relieved the sober greyish green of the pendent acacia.  At 5 1/2 miles the river took a westerly bend, the ground on its banks being higher than usual.  From a tree at this point two small hills (supposed to be the Twins) bore west-north-west distant about twelve miles.  At 9 miles 35 chains the south of the Twins bore 258 degrees, distant about four miles; at 10 miles 28 chains, the southern of the Twins bore 249 degrees, the northern 252 degrees; and we encamped on reaching the creek, after a journey of fifteen miles.  We had a fine view of the supposed Twins as we proceeded; and I found water on making the river where I wished to encamp.

May 15.

At daylight we set off for the hills (which I judged to be the Twins of Sturt) distant 8 1/4 miles.  I found a group of small hills, composed of quartz rock, the strata of which were highly inclined, and the strike extended north-west and south-east.  From the highest, which is the southern hill, I looked in vain for New Year’s range; the horizon in that direction being quite unbroken; hence I concluded that this could not be the Twins, and I named it Mount Hopeless.  Several remarkable hills appeared however to the west and south-west, on all of which I took bearings with the theodolite.  Their surface was naked and rocky, only a few trees consisting of pine (or callitris) and some dwarf gumtrees appearing on them; but the country within two miles of their base was more densely wooded than that nearer the Bogan.