The two natives, whom the stockmen had named Peter and Jemmie, were of infinite service to us, from their knowledge of all the passes, and the general features of the country.  Having, however, seen us thus far on the journey from their usual haunts, they became anxious to return, and it was with some difficulty we persuaded them to accompany us for a few days longer, in hopes of reward.  The weather had been cool and pleasant; the thermometer averaging 78 of Fahrenheit at noon, in consequences of which the animals kept in good condition, the men healthy and zealous.  The sheep Mr. O’Brien had presented to us, gave no additional trouble; they followed in the rear of the party without attempting to wander, and were secured at night in a small pen or fold.  No waste attended their slaughter, nor did they lose in condition, from being driven from ten to fifteen miles daily, so much as I had been led to suppose they would have done.

CHAPTER III.

Character of the Morumbidgee where it issues from the hilly country—­ Appearance of approach to swamps—­Hamilton Plains—­Intercourse with the natives—­Their appearance, customs, &c.—­Change in the character of the river—­Mirage—­Dreariness of the country—­Ride towards the Lachlan river —­Two boats built and launched on the Morumbidgee; and the drays, with part of the men sent back to Goulburn Plains.

Natives—­wild game,&c.; Character of the river and the adjoining country.

From our camp, the Morumbidgee held a direct westerly course for about three miles.  The hills under which we had encamped, rose so close upon our right as to leave little space between them and the river.  At the distance of three miles, however, they suddenly terminated, and the river changed its direction to the S.W., while a chain of ponds extended to the westward, and separated the alluvial flats from a somewhat more elevated plain before us.  We kept these ponds upon our left for some time, but, as they ultimately followed the bend of the river, we left them.  The blacks led us on a W. by S. course to the base of a small range two or three miles distant, near which there was a deep lagoon.  It was evident they here expected to have found some other natives.  Being disappointed, however, they turned in towards the river again, but we stopped short of it on the side of a serpentine sheet of water, an apparent continuation of the chain of ponds we had left behind us, forming a kind of ditch round the S.W. extremity of the range, parallel to which we had continued to travel.  This range, which had been gradually decreasing in height from the lagoon, above which it rose perpendicularly, might almost be said to terminate here.  We fell in with two or three natives before we halted, but the evident want of population in so fine a country, and on so noble a river, surprised me extremely.