habitation was not sufficient for the wanton bird to sport in; and on the dry swamps I mentioned above, small companies of native companions were walking around us at some distance, but rose with their sonorous cu-r-r-r-ring cry, whenever Brown tried to approach them. [The natives of Argyle call the cry of the native companion, Ku-ru-duc Ku-ru-duc; the natives of Port Essington call the bird Ororr.—­Note by Capt.  King]

May 21.—­I went with Brown to reconnoitre the course of the creek, and to ascertain whether it flowed to the westward.  We soon found, however, that it turned to the north and north-east, and that it was still an eastern water.  As far as I followed it down, it formed the separation between the primitive rocks and the basalt, but received several creeks from the westward.  In riding along we heard the cooees of natives, and passed several large camping places near the large water-holes of the creek.  A Blackfellow emerged suddenly from the creek, holding a Casuarina branch in his hand, and pointing to the westward.  We made a sign that we were going down the creek, and that we had no intention of hurting him; the poor fellow, however, was so frightened that he groaned and crouched down in the grass.  Wishing not to increase his alarm, we rode on.  I followed up one of the largest tributary creeks coming from the westward towards its head; it was lined with Casuarinas and flooded-gum trees, like Separation Creek, and came from an entirely granitic country, ridges and ranges, with some high hills, bounding its valley on both sides; it soon divided, however, into branches, and as one turned too much to the north and the other to the south, I kept between them to the westward, and passed over a hilly, broken, granitic country.  Large blocks of granite crested the summits of the hills, and their slopes were covered with Acacia thickets, and arborescent Hakeas and Grevilleas.  A dwarf Acacia, with rhomboid downy phyllodia, an inch long, grew between the rocks.  The natives were busy on the hills, cutting out opossums and honey.  We heard their calls and the cries of their children.  As we descended into another valley, the whole slope was on fire; we passed through it, however, with little difficulty.  We crossed ridges after ridges, passed from one little creek and watercourse to another, all of which turned to the northward.  At last, heartily tired, and almost despairing of attaining the object of our search, viz., a western water, we came into a valley which went down to the south-west; and, following it down, found that it joined a larger one which went to the westward.  A broad creek, with the drooping tea tree and a sandy bed, gave us the promise of soon finding water; and, following the tracks of numerous kangaroos and native dogs, we came to a small pool.  After passing over very rocky granitic hills, we came into a more open country; the banks of the creek became reedy, and water was more abundant, and at last a fine pool, surrounded by a rich belt of reeds, was before us.  Brown was fortunate enough to shoot two ducks; and, as the sun was setting behind a neighbouring hill, we made our camp for the night.