tree, which, excepting for the knees of small vessels, could not have been applied to any use, while the flooded-gum had entirely disappeared.  Some ducks were shot in the afternoon, which proved a great treat, as we had been living for some time on salt provisions.  Our animals fared worse than ourselves, as the bed of the creek was occupied by coarse rushes, and but little vegetation was elsewhere to be seen.  I here killed a beautiful snake, of about four feet in length, and of a bright yellow colour:  I had not, however, the means of preserving it.  Fraser collected numerous botanical specimens, and among them two kinds of caparis.  Indeed a great alteration had taken place in the minor shrubs, and few of those now prevalent had been observed to the eastward of the marshes.

From the creek, which both I and Mr. Hume must have crossed on our respective journeys, we held a westerly course for about fifteen miles, through a country of alternate plain and brush, the latter predominating, and in its general character differing but little from that we had traversed the day previous.

The acacia pendula still continued to exist on the plains backed by dark rows of cypresses (Cupressus callitris).  In the brushes, box and casuarina (Casuarina tortuosa), with several other kinds of eucalypti, prevailed; but none of them were sufficiently large to be of use.  The plains were so extremely level that a meridian altitude could have been taken without any material error; and I doubt much whether it would have been possible to have traversed them had the season been wet.

Hunting party of natives.

As we were travelling through a forest we surprised a hunting party of natives.  Mr. Hume and I were considerably in front of our party at the time, and he only had his gun with him.  We had been moving along so quietly that we were not for some time observed by them.  Three were seated on the ground, under a tree, and two others were busily employed on one of the lower branches cutting out honey.  As soon as they saw us, four of them ran away; but the fifth, who wore a cap of emu feathers, stood for a moment looking at us, and then very deliberately dropped out of the tree to the ground.  I then advanced towards him, but before I got round a bush that intervened, he had darted away.  I was fearful that he was gone to collect his tribe, and, under this impression, rode quickly back for my gun to support Mr. Hume.  On my arrival I found the native was before me.  He stood about twenty paces from Mr. Hume, who was endeavouring to explain what he was; but seeing me approach he immediately poised his spear at him, as being the nearest.  Mr. Hume then unslung his carbine, and presented it; but, as it was evident my re-appearance had startled the savage, I pulled up; and he immediately lowered his weapon.  His coolness and courage surprised me, and increased my desire to communicate with him.  He had evidently taken both man and