(Footnote.  Warrabangle is a very similar name and belongs to a hill similarly situated five degrees further to the northward.  See Map.)

ASCEND BARRABUNGALE.  RAINY WEATHER.  EXCURSION SOUTHWARD.

July 6.

The morning being rainy, I could learn nothing more by ascending Barrabungale as I intended; but I rode into the country to the southward in order to examine it in the direction in which I thought it most desirable to lead the party.  After passing over several well-watered grassy flats or valleys, each bounded by open forest-hills, we crossed at six miles from the camp a range the summit of which was covered by a low scrub, but it did not much impede our way.  Beyond this range we again found open forest land, and we saw extensive flats still more open to our right, in which direction all the waters seemed to fall.  At length, after travelling about twelve miles, we came upon a deep chain of ponds winding through a flat thickly covered with anthisteria and resembling a field of ripe grain.  Smoke arose in all directions from an extensive camp of natives but, although I cooeyed and saw them at a distance, they continued to crouch behind trees and would not approach.  I did not disturb them further, but returned with the intention of leading the party there the next day when I hoped to see more of these natives.  An abundance of a beautiful white or pale yellow-flowered, herbaceous plant reminding me of the violets of Europe, to which it was nearly allied, grew on the sides of hills.*

(Footnote.  This has been ascertained to be a new species of the genus Pigea.  P. floribunda, Lindley manuscripts; caule erecto ramoso, foliis alternis linearibus et lineari-lanceolatis obtusis glabris, racemulis secundis paucifloris foliis brevioribus, sepalis petalisque glandulosis ovatis acutis, labelli lamina obovata rotundata basi bilamellata, antheris sessilibus syngenistis apice lamina oblonga membranacea acutis, processibus 2 corniformibus basi staminum 2 anteriorum.)

THE WIDOW RETURNS TO THE PARTY.

In the evening The Widow returned with her child on her back.  She stated that after we left our late encampment a numerous tribe arrived on the opposite bank of the river and, seeing the fires on her side, called out very angrily, as Piper translated her tale, “murry coola” (very angry); inquiring who had made those fires, and that, receiving no reply (for she was afraid and had hid herself) they danced a corrobory in a furious style during which she and the child crept away, and had passed two nights without fire and in the rain.  Piper seemed angry at her return, but I took particular care that she should be treated with as much kindness as before.  She was a woman of good sense and had been with us long enough to feel secure under our protection, even from the wrath of Piper as displayed on this occasion; and I discovered that her attempted return home had been suggested by Piper’s gin who probably anticipated a greater share of food after The Widow’s departure.