In consequence of rain, we did not strike the tents so early as usual.  At 7 a.m. a heavy thunder storm occurred from the N.W. after which the sky cleared, and we were enabled to push forward at 11 a.m., moving on a general W.N.W, course, over rich flats, which, having been moistened by the morning’s showers, showed the dark colour of the rich earth of which they were composed.  Some sand-hills were, however, observed near the river, of about fifteen feet in elevation, crowned by banksias; and the soil of the flats had a very partial mixture of sand in it.  How these sand-hills could have been formed it is difficult to say; but they produced little minor vegetation, and were as pure as the sand of the sea-shore.  Some considerable plains were noticed to our right, in appearance not inferior to the ground on which we were journeying.  At noon we rose gradually from the level of these plains, and travelled along the side of a hill, until we got to a small creek, at which we stopped, though more than a mile and a half from the river.  The clouds had been gathering again in the N.W. quarter, and we had scarcely time to secure our flour, when a second storm burst upon us, and it continued to rain violently for the remainder of the day.

Beautiful prospect.

From a small hill that lay to our left Mr. M’Leay and I enjoyed a most beautiful view.  Beneath us to the S. E. the rich and lightly timbered valley through which the Morumbidgee flows, extended, and parts of the river were visible through the dark masses of swamp-oak by which it was lined, or glittering among the flooded-gum trees, that grew in its vicinity.  In the distance was an extensive valley that wound between successive mountain ranges.  More to the eastward, both mountain and woodland bore a dark and gloomy shade, probably in consequence of the light upon them at the time.  Those lofty peaks that had borne nearly south of us from Pouni, near Yass, now rose over the last-mentioned ranges, and by their appearance seemed evidently to belong to a high and rugged chain.  To the westward, the decline of country was more observable than ever; and the hills on both sides of the river, were lower and more distant from it.  Those upon which we found ourselves were composed of iron-stone, were precipitous towards the river in many places, of sandy soil, and were crowned with beef-wood as well as box.  The change in the rock-formation and in the soil, produced a corresponding change in the vegetation.  The timber was not so large as it had been, neither did the hills any longer bear the green appearance which had distinguished those we had passed to their very summits.  The grass here grew in tufts amidst the sand, and was of a burnt appearance as if it had suffered from drought.

Natives—­their suffering from cold.