TRACES OF CAPTAIN STURT’S VISIT.

May 17.

At two miles from our bivouac we crossed a small rill descending to the south-east from hills which might be New Year’s range.  At 5 1/4 miles we encamped on the Bogan, the most northern but one of five hills supposed to be the New Year’s range, bearing 240 degrees.  From this point the northern extremity of the ridge extending from the hills bore 25 degrees.  At twelve o’clock I went to these heights, and on the first I ascended I found several stumps of pine (or Callitris pyramidalis) which had been cut down with an axe, the remains of them being still visible amongst the ashes of a fire.  I was thus satisfied that this was the hill on which Captain Sturt’s party burnt the trees when a man was missing.  Still however a better range to the westward was unaccounted for; but, on ascending a hill which was still higher and whose rocky crest was clear of trees, I was able to identify the whole by the bearings of the high land as given in Captain Sturt’s book, and by the strip of plain visible in the south, which had appeared to that traveller to resemble the bed of a rapid river.  This plain happened to be the one we had crossed the day before, and I had then observed the waterholes, also mentioned, and that they had been long dry.  No traces besides those already noticed remained of the visit of the first discoverers of New Year’s range.

During my absence three natives had been near the camp, two old men and one very strong and tall young one.  They appeared very much afraid, and barely remained to receive the flag of truce (a green branch) sitting with their eyes fixed on the ground and retiring soon after.  I do not think any water could be found nearer than the Bogan at this time, although I observed hollows between the hills where it would probably remain some time after rain, and where, I suppose, Captain Sturt’s party found it.  I made the latitude of the camp to be 30 degrees 26 minutes 24 seconds, and that of the hill 30 degrees 27 minutes 45 seconds.

May 18.

We moved off to the northward, and at seven miles came upon the river where there was a reach for about a mile of deep water; and soon after we attained that part of it where the bed was of granite, but quite dry.  The bank was here unusually even, like that of a canal, having also little wood; no polygonum or rhagodia appeared there.  Soon after we traversed a soil composed of gravel, about the size of stones broken for roads; the fragments were a good deal rounded, and all of granite.  We finally encamped on the river after crossing its usual belt of soft hollow ground, which was rather distressing to the bullocks.  The roads of the natives frequenting this part of the Bogan were well beaten, but none of the inhabitants made their appearance.

May 19.

We started at the usual hour, keeping first to the south of west, in order to clear the ground near the Bogan, and then on 300 degrees.  I obtained from several parts of the route bearings on the hills west by south of New Year’s range, and which were higher and more conspicuous than the latter.