AT LENGTH REACH A VALLEY LEADING IN THE DESIRED DIRECTION.

Drizzling rain came on and prevented me from seeing far beyond the point we had reached when I at length halted the party and, taking Piper with me, descended into a valley before us in order to ascertain its general direction and whether the carts might not pass along it.  We found in this valley the tracks not of cattle only but of well shod horses:  we also discovered that it opened into extensive green flats and, its direction being northerly, I hastened back and conducted the party into it by the best line of descent I could find, although it was certainly very steep.  Having got safe down with our carts we found excellent pasturage, the cattle marks being very numerous and at length quite fresh, even the print of young calves’ feet appeared, and all the traces of a numerous herd.

WILD CATTLE SEEN.

In short cattle tracks resembling roads ran along the banks of the chain of ponds which watered this valley; and at length the welcome sight of the cattle themselves delighted our longing eyes, not to mention our stomachs which were then in the best possible state to assist our perceptions of the beauty of a foreground of fat cattle.  We were soon surrounded by a staring herd consisting of at least 800 head, and I took a shot at one; but my ball only made him jump, upon which the whole body, apparently very wild, made off to the mountains.

OBLIGED TO KILL ONE OF OUR WORKING BULLOCKS.

Symptoms of famine now began to show themselves in the sullenness of some of the men, and I most reluctantly allowed them to kill one of our poor working animals, which was accordingly shot as soon as we encamped and divided amongst the party.

BY FOLLOWING THE VALLEY DOWNWARDS, WE ARRIVE ON THE MURRUMBIDGEE.

The valley preserved a course somewhat to the westward of north, and I now felt confident that by following it downwards we should reach the Murrumbidgee without meeting further impediment.  This unexpected relief from the hopeless prospects of the drizzling morning was infinitely more refreshing to me than any kind of food could possibly have been, even under such circumstances.

October 24.

As we continued our journey downwards the waterholes in the chain of ponds became small and scarce, while we found the cattle-tracks more and more numerous.  No change took place in the character of the valley for nine miles; but I recognised then at no great distance the hills which on the 22nd I had supposed to lie beyond the Murrumbidgee.  On riding to a small eminence on the right I perceived the dark umbrageous trees overshadowing that noble river, and close before me the rich open flats with tame cattle browsing upon them, or reclining in luxuriant ease, very unlike the wild herd.  The river was flowing westward over a gravelly bottom, its scenery being highly embellished by the lofty casuarinae, whose sombre masses of darkest