After travelling about seven miles and a half we perceived, on our left, an open valley in which a numerous herd of cattle was feeding; and one mile further on, we came upon a fine little stream, which was rather difficult to cross, owing to the steepness of the banks.  As the men were at work taking the carts over one by one, the native and I were amused with a large black snake, which was swimming about.  On his casting a stone at it the snake glided swiftly towards him, and the poor fellow took to his heels, cautioning me to keep off, saying it would kill my horse.  But he soon returned to the charge, and having succeeded in stunning it with stones, it was at length cut in two with my sabre.  On measuring this snake I found it to be nine inches in circumference, and eight feet and a half in length.

Beyond that rivulet the country appeared tolerably open and level, so that we could pursue our course in one direction nearly eight miles.  The most conspicuous hill on our right, was named by the native Barragundy.  It was visible during the whole of our day’s journey.  We at length entered upon an open and grassy plain, and found in the skirts of the wood beyond it, a channel containing water in abundance, and which was known to the natives as Carrabobbila.* Beyond this channel arose a peaked and picturesque range, whereof the highest summit was named Turi.

(Footnote.  Even before my men had seen this spot, the native name, in their mouths, was corrupted into Terrible Billy!)

MODES OF DRINKING AU NATUREL.

The water, when we encamped, was hot and muddy, but the blacks knew well how to obtain a cool and clean draught, by first scratching a hole in the soft sand beside the pool, thus making a filter, in which the water rose cooled but muddy.  They next threw into this some tufts of long grass, through which they sucked the cooler water thus purified also from the sand or gravel.  I was very glad to follow the example, and I found the sweet fragrance of the grass an agreeable addition to the luxury of drinking.  But during the heat of the forenoon I had observed the female quenching her thirst with still greater satisfaction, by rushing into a pool, and drinking as she sat immersed up to the lip.

From Loder’s station, we had travelled thus far on our way to Peel’s river, without having any road or track to follow, and I had marked the trees along our line of route, which certainly seemed favourable for a cart-road in that direction.  Near Carrabobbila, we came upon the track leading to Wallamoul, which was more circuitous, passing by other cattle stations in the plains.

WOODS ON FIRE.

During the last three days of our journey, the woods were burning before us, but fortunately the fire was one day’s march in advance of our party, and thus the flames had cleared everything away before our arrival, so that our camp was not exposed to danger.  This evening however, the country seemed on fire all around us.  The weather was calm and sultry, particularly when the day closed in, and a very heavy storm, accompanied by thunder, broke over us in the night.