full of Bricklow scrub; we were on flat-topped ridges, about 80 to 100 feet above the level of the valley.  After several attempts to cross, we had to turn to the N. N. E. and east, in order to head it, travelling through a most beautiful open Ironbark forest, with the grass in full seed, from three to four feet high.  Following a hollow, in which the fall of the country was indicated by the grass bent by the run of water after heavy showers of rain, we came to fine water-holes, about five miles from our last camp.

At the other side of the valley, we saw distant ranges to the north-west and northward.  The scrub was occasionally more open, and fine large bottle-trees (Sterculia) were frequent:  the young wood of which, containing a great quantity of starch between its woody fibres, was frequently chewed by our party.  Fusanus was abundant and in full bearing; its fruit (of the size of a small apple), when entirely ripe and dropped from the tree, furnished a very agreeable repast:  the rind, however, which surrounds its large rough kernel, is very thin.

Oct. 27.—­During last night a very strong, cold, westerly wind.

After travelling about 3 1/2 miles north, we were stopped by a Bricklow scrub, which compelled us to go to the east and south-east.  I encamped, about three miles north-east by north from my last resting place, and examined the scrub:  it was out of the question to cross it.  Mr. Gilbert shot three black cockatoos and a bronze-winged pigeon.

Oct. 28.—­During the night it was very cold, though no wind was stirring.  In the morning we experienced an easterly breeze.  Travelling to the eastward and east by south, I found that the water-holes outside of the scrub at which we were encamped, changed into a creek with rocky bed, having its banks partly covered with cypress-pine thickets.  I crossed it about three miles lower down, and, finding the Ironbark forest sufficiently open, turned to the northward; scarcely three miles farther, we came to another creek of a character similar to that of the last, which I suppose to be one of the heads of Dogwood Creek.  The blue Brunonia was again frequent; the grass five feet high, in full ear, and waving like a rye field.  The soil, however, is sandy and rotten, and the grass in isolated tufts.  We encamped about four miles north-east from our last camp.

CHAPTER II

Party reduced by the return of Mr. Hodgson and Caleb—­meet friendly
natives—­native tomb—­the Dawson—­vervain plains—­Gilbert’s range—­Lynd’s
range—­Robinson’s creek—­Murphy’s lake—­mountainous country—­expedition
range—­mount Nicholson—­Aldis’s peak—­the Boyd.

Nov. 3.—­For the past week, the heat was very oppressive during the day, whilst, at night, it was often exceedingly cold; for two or three hours before dawn, and for an hour after sunset, it was generally delightful, particularly within the influence of a cheerful cypress-pine fire, which perfumes the air with the sweet scent of the burning resin.