plain, parts of which are very stony, and this is bounded towards the east by a low stony rise, partly composed of decayed and honeycombed quartz rock in situ, and partly of waterworn pebbles and other alluvial deposits.  At about two miles across this plain, we reached the first of a series of small creeks with deep waterholes:  these creeks and holes have the characteristics peculiar to watercourses which are found in flats formed from the alluvial deposits of schistose rocks.  The banks are on a level with the surrounding ground, and are irregularly marked by small trees, or only by tufts of long grass which overhang the channel and frequently hide it from one’s view, even when within a few yards.  At about five miles from where we crossed the river, we came to the main creek in these flats, Patten’s Creek; it flows along at the foot of a stony range, and we had to trace it up nearly a mile in a north-north-easterly direction before we could cross it; as it happened, we might almost as well have followed its course up the flat, for at a little more than two miles we came to it again.  We re-crossed it at a stony place just below a very large waterhole, and then continued our course over extensive plains, not so well grassed as those we had passed before, and very stony in some places.  At eight miles from Patten’s Creek, we came to another, running from south-west to south-east:  there was plenty of water in it, but it was evidently the result of recent local rains.  On the banks was an abundance of good feed but very little timber.

Friday, 11th January, 1861.—­We started at five A.M., and in the excitement of exploring fine well-watered country, forgot all about the eclipse of the sun until the reduced temperature and peculiarly gloomy appearance of the sky drew our attention to the matter; it was then too late to remedy the deficiency, so we made a good day’s journey, the moderation of the midday heat, which was only about 86 degrees, greatly assisting us.  The country traversed has the most verdant and cheerful aspect; abundance of feed and water everywhere.  All the creeks seen to-day have a course more or less to the east by south.  The land improves in appearance at every mile.  A quantity of rain has fallen here and to the south, and some of the flats are suitable for cultivation, if the regularity of the seasons will admit.

Field book 5.

Camps 92 to 95.  Latitude 22 1/4 to 21 1/4 degrees.

(Standish Ranges.)

Saturday, 12th January, 1861.—­We started at five A.M., and, keeping as nearly as possible a due north course, traversed for about eight miles a splendid flat, through which flow several fine well-watered creeks, lined with white gum trees.  We then entered a series of slaty, low, sandstone ranges, amongst which were some well-grassed flats, and plenty of water in the main gullies.  The more stony portions are, however, covered with porcupine grass, and here