Oct. 15.—­We continued our journey in a north-west direction.  The first five or six miles was over a succession of very lightly timbered box-flats, alternating with small plains.  They were bounded by scrubs and ranges, which we crossed, and from the top of one obtained the view of a remarkable system of parallel ranges, all steep mountain walls of a white colour indicating the nature of their rock, and separated from each other by perfectly level flats covered with broad leaved tea-tree forest.  At their foot a richer tree vegetation existed, principally composed of the leguminous Ironbark, Blood-wood, and Pandanus.  The darker verdure of these trees, which we also observed at the foot of the most distant range, made us believe that a river was near it.  After travelling about five miles over a flat, we crossed a broad sandy creek, which we did not follow, although beaten foot-paths of the natives led down it, as we firmly believed that a river was before us.  At five miles farther, we came to the foot of the range, which rose suddenly from the level country, and, although a small watercourse existed in the tea-tree flat, our anticipated river proved to be like the Dutchman’s “Cape Fly-away.”  In ascending the range, our poor bullocks suffered severely, and, when we reached the summit, they stood panting with their tongues hanging out of their mouths; I therefore halted a short time, to allow them to recover.  The east slopes of all these ranges were steep, but to the north-west they were very gentle, and covered with stringy-bark forest.  A long succession of similar ranges was seen to the north-west.  A small watercourse brought us to a creek containing large but dry water-holes.  Finding that it turned to the eastward, round the range we had just crossed, and that it almost disappeared in the scrubby tea-tree flats, we turned to the northward, passed several more ridges, and encamped long after sunset, near a dry but promising creek, without water.  I immediately sent Mr. Calvert and Charley down the creek, in search of water, and they returned, towards midnight, with the welcome intelligence that they had found some fine pools.

I had been absent during the latter part of the stage, and most unfortunately our kangaroo dog had been left behind, whereby this most valuable animal was lost.  He had been the means of our obtaining so much, and indeed the greatest part of our game, that his loss was severely felt by us.

Our lat. was 15 degrees 10 minutes.

Oct. 16.—­We travelled down to the water, about four miles north-east along the creek, which was covered with Cypress pine thickets, and tea-tree scrub.  Mr. Calvert and Charley returned on our tracks to endeavour to recover our poor dog.  They found him almost dead,—­stretched out in the deep cattle track, which he seemed not to have quitted, even to find a shady place.  They brought him to the camp; and I put his whole body, with the exception of his head, under water, and bled him; he