seven miles opened into a forest of apple-trees and other eucalypti.  We soon after reached Maule’s creek, the passage of which, on account of its steep banks, cost us an hour and a half.  This induced me to encamp there, influenced also by the apprehension of a want of water, at any convenient distance beyond it.  On first approaching water I had frequently an opportunity of observing that the worst characters have the least control over their appetites, in cases of extreme privation.  It was a standing order, which I insisted on being observed, that no man should quit the line of route to drink without my permission.  There was one, notwithstanding, who never could, in cases of extremity, resist the temptation of water, and who would rush to it, regardless of consequences.  Now this man continued to be an irreclaimable character, and in six years after he had lost all the advantages he gained by his services on this occasion.  The morning had been calm and very hot, but at three P.M. the sun was obscured, to our inexpressible relief, and clouds full of thunder at length overcast the whole sky; only a few drops of rain fell about six P.M.; and at ten the heavens became clear, the air however was cool and refreshing.

PASS THE WESTERN EXTREMITY OF NUNDEWAR RANGE.

January 1, 1832.

We proceeded on the same bearing, travelling over a very level surface.  As we approached the western extremity of the great range, we touched on an open plain, whereof the soil was very rich.  The greater portion of it lay on the left, or westward of our route, or towards the river.  After crossing it we again entered a thin scrub of Acacia pendula, which having been recently burnt was open and favourable for passing through.  We afterwards crossed a succession of gentle undulations, and through an opening, along the bottom of one valley, I obtained a view over the flat country to the westward.  The most remarkable feature was a naked ridge of yellowish rock which rose abruptly from the woody country, as if it overhung the river.  I wished much to examine that singular mass, but we were proceeding with little prospect of finding water, and we had impassable scrubs before us, as well as rocky hills on our right.  A valley at length appeared in our route, and in which from the nature of the mountains at its head, I hoped to find water.  In this I was however disappointed, for the channel, although of considerable depth, was quite dry, and I in vain searched its bed for at least a mile upwards.  At ten miles the most western head of the range of Nundewar bore north, its low western extremity being distant only about a quarter of a mile.  We were about to cross some offsets from the range, when a thick scrub or brush obstructed our further progress in that direction.  I entered it and penetrated about a mile and a half without discovering any indication of water, or any opening through which the carts might pass.  The weather was extremely warm, and as we had come a long journey,