Having completed my work as the sun was setting I hastened to the valley, and learnt that the party had discovered neither water nor grass.  Barney the native had nevertheless obtained both when with me at the top of the mountain; and therefore, although it was dark and we were all fatigued, yet up that rocky mountain we were compelled to go with the horses, and encamp near the summit beside a little pool of water which had been well-known to Barney at other times.  On this elevated crest the air was surprisingly mild during the night for, although I slept in my clothes and on the ground, I enjoyed its freshness as a great relief from the oppressive heat of the day.  Our singular bivouac on the summit, which I had so long wished to visit, was adorned with a strange-looking tree, probably Casuarina glauca.

April 8.

Next morning I had an opportunity of surveying the hills around me more at leisure, and I noted down their various names from the lips of Barney for that desolate region, where neither a kangaroo nor a bird was to be seen or heard, was poor Barney’s country, that lonely mountain his home!

I learned that the only water in these deserts was to be found in the crevices of rocks on such hills as this; and I thus understood the cause of the smoke I observed last year arising from so many summits when I looked over the same region from a hill on its northern limits.  Perhaps within thirty miles around there was no other water, and the bare top of a mountain was certainly one of the last situations where I should have thought of seeking for it.

We descended after I had completed my survey from a hill which perhaps no white man will again ascend; I may however add, for the information of those who may be disposed to do so, that the well is on the crest of a ridge extending north-west from the principal summit, and distant therefrom about 200 yards.  I had brought provisions for another day as I originally intended to examine the course of the Lachlan above Mount Torrens; but having seen enough from this hill to satisfy me on that point we retraced our steps to the camp.

April 9.

This day I halted as well to rest the horses as for the purpose of observing equal altitudes of the sun and protracting my survey.

ASCEND BOLLOON, A HILL BEYOND THE LACHLAN.

April 10.

Leaving the party encamped I crossed the Lachlan and rode eight miles due south to Bolloon which proved to be the highest cone of a low ridge situated within the great bend of this river.  I found it a valuable station for continuing my chain of triangles downwards, as from it Mounts Cunningham and Allan, Hurd’s Peak, Peel’s and Goulburn ranges, Mount Granard, etc. are all visible.  We passed some lower hills belonging to the same chain, and of which the basis seemed to be the prevailing ferruginous sandstone.  In my return to the camp I found the dogs had killed an emu.