The weather was delightful; a fine breeze from the east cooled the air.

July 31.—­We made about ten miles due west, the latitude of our camp being 18 degrees 6 minutes 42 seconds.  After passing some Ironstone ridges, covered with stunted silver-leaved Ironbark, we entered upon a large plain, from which we saw some low ranges to the south, and smoke to the W. 20 degrees S. I followed this course about seven miles; but the smoke was still very distant, and, perceiving a belt of forest to the westward, I took that direction, passed the head of a small creek which went to the southward, crossed some box forest and Ironbark ridges, and came into an open country, with alternating plains and ridges, which, even at the present season, was very pretty, and must, when clothed in the garments of Spring, be very beautiful.  The creek which we had met at the east side of the forest, had swept round the ridges, and was now again before us, pursuing a north-west course.  A fine plain extended along it, on which I observed Acacia Farnesiana of Darling Downs, the grass of the Isaacs, and several grasses of the Suttor.  The holes of the creek were shaded by large Terminalias, and by a white gum, with slightly drooping foliage of a pleasing green colour.  We followed the creek down, and soon came again to Ironstone ridges.

I had sent Charley forward to look for water, and, when he joined us again, he told me that there was a water-hole, but that natives, for the greater part gins, were encamped on it.  I could not help taking possession of it, as there were none besides, to our knowledge; and our bullocks and horses were fatigued by a long stage.  I, therefore, rode up to it alone; the gins had decamped, but a little urchin remained, who was probably asleep when his mother went.  He cried bitterly, as he made his way through the high grass, probably in search for his mother.  Thinking it prudent to tie an iron ring to his neck, that his parents might see we were peaceably inclined, I caught the little fellow, who threw his stick at me, and defended himself most manfully when I laid hold of him.  Having dismissed him with an angry slap on his fat little posteriors, he walked away crying, but keeping hold of the iron ring:  his mother came down from the ridge to meet him, laughing loud, and cheering with jokes.

I observed ironstone pebbles, and large pieces of a fine grained flaggy sandstone on the first plains we crossed; the sandstone was excellent to sharpen our knives.

CHAPTER XI

Systematic grass burnings of the natives—­native carving—­audacity of the
natives OVERAWED—­the Albert, or Maet Suyker—­native Mode of making sure
of A dead emu—­bullock bogged; obliged to kill it—­native device for
taking emus—­Beames’s brook—­the Nicholson—­reconnoitre by night—­smith’s
creek—­the Marlow.