The two blacks who had been with us so long, and who had not only exerted themselves to assist us, but had contributed in no small degree to our amusement, though they had from M’Leay’s liberality, tasted all the dainties with which we had provided ourselves, from sugar to concentrated cayenne, intimated that they could no longer accompany the party.  They had probably got to the extremity of their beat, and dared not venture any further.  They left us with evident regret, receiving, on their departure, several valuable presents, in the shape of tomahawks &c.  The last thing they did was to point out the way to us, and to promise to join us on our return, although they evidently little anticipated ever seeing us again.

In pursuing our journey, we entered a forest, consisting of box-trees, casuarinae, and cypresses, on a light sandy soil, in which both horses and bullocks sunk so deep that their labour was greatly increased, more especially as the weather had become much warmer.  At noon I altered my course from N.W. by W. to W.N.W., and reached the Morumbidgee at 3 in the afternoon.  The flats bordering it were extensive and rich, and, being partially mixed with sand, were more fitted for agricultural purposes than the stiffer and purer soil amidst the mountains; but the interior beyond them was far from being of corresponding quality.  We crossed several plains on which vegetation was scanty, probably owing to the hardness of the soil, which was a stiff loamy clay, and which must check the growth of plants, by preventing the roots from striking freely into it.  The river where we stopped for the night appeared to have risen considerably, and the fish were rolling about on the surface of the water with a noise like porpoises.  No elevations were visible, so that I had not an opportunity of continuing the chain of survey with the points I had previously taken.

Travelling down the river.

As we proceeded down the river on the 8th, the flats became still more extensive than they had ever been, and might almost be denominated plains.  Vegetation was scanty upon them, although the soil was of the first quality.  About nine miles from our camp, we struck on a small isolated hill, that could scarcely have been of 200 feet elevation; yet, depressed as it was, the view from its summit was very extensive, and I was surprised to find that we were still in some measure surrounded by high lands, of which I took the following bearings, connected with the present ones.

A High Peak.....N. 66 E. distance 40 miles. 
Kengal ........  N. 110 E. distant. 
Double Hill ...  S. 10 W. distant.

To the north, there were several fires burning, which appeared rather the fires of natives, than conflagrations, and as the river had made a bend to the N.N.W., I doubted not that they were upon its banks.  From this hill, which was of compact granite, we struck away to the W.N.W., and shortly afterwards crossed