KANGAROOS NUMEROUS.

The country abounded with kangaroos.  On ascending some grassy ridges I perceived a verdant plain which extended as far as I could see to the westward.  It was bounded on the south, not by scrub, but by a forest of large trees; and the horizon beyond presented something like an outline of hills, a refreshing sight, accustomed as we had been for several months to a horizon as level as that of the ocean.  After travelling about three miles we were obliged to turn westward by a creek or ana-branch of the river, having on its banks large yarra trees resembling those in the main stream.  It prevented us from approaching the Murray during the rest of the day, and we finally encamped on its margin having found there most excellent grass.

June 18.

Continuing along the firm ground between the bergs and this creek we pursued a course which for some miles bore to the westward of south.  We passed through forests of the box or goborro, under which grew a luxuriant crop of grass and two of these flats (on which we saw yarra trees also) stretched away to the westward, breaking the elsewhere unvaried wilderness of sandhills and scrub.  On crossing one of these forest flats we heard the sound of the natives’ hatchet on some hollow trees before us; and Piper as usual hastened forward to communicate with them, but in vain for, as soon as they saw him, they ran like kangaroos, leaving the fortunate opossum which they had been seeking still alive in his hole in the tree.  At length we got clear of the creek on reaching a bend of the river not far beyond the spot where we had seen the natives.

COUNTRY IMPROVES AS WE ASCEND THE RIVER.

The Murray was flowing rapidly in a narrower channel and within two or three feet of the top of the banks.  The country appeared on the whole superior to any that we had seen on the other side of this river.  The grassy flats backed by hills covered with callitris seemed very eligible for cattle runs, the chief objection to them being only that the banks of the river were so steep and yielding that the water was in general inaccessible.  The breadth seldom exceeded 60 or 70 yards; and I suspected that we might be already above the junction of some stream on the right bank, especially as the course came now so much from the southward.

A REGION OF REEDS.

On crossing the extremity of a sandhill, about two miles from the spot where we afterwards encamped, I perceived that reeds covered a vast region before us.  They grew everywhere, even under the trees, and extended back from the channel of the river as far as I could see and, no alternative presenting itself, we endeavoured to face them.  The lofty ash-hills of the natives, used chiefly for roasting the balyan (or bulrush) a root found only in such places, again appeared in great numbers.  We soon came upon a lagoon about a mile in circumference and surrounded on all sides by high reeds.  One or two smooth grassy hills arose among them, but the ground, even where they grew, was as firm and good for travelling upon as any that we had recently crossed.  They were no impediment to a man or bullock in motion, but grew to the height of about seven or eight feet.