e 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 and there with mallee; large ant-hills are very numerous; they
vary in height from two and a half to four feet. There was a
continuous rise perceptible all the way in crossing the ranges, and
from the highest portion, which we reached at a distance of about
seven miles, we had a pretty good view of the country towards the
north. As far as we could see in the distance, and bearing due
north, was a large range, having somewhat the outline of a granite
mountain. The east end of this range just comes up to the magnetic
north; on the left of this, and bearing north-north-west, is a
single conical peak, the top of which only is visible. Further to
the west there were some broken ranges, apparently sandstone; to
the east of north the tops of very distant and apparently higher
ranges were seen, the outline of which was so indistinct that I can
form no idea as to their character; the intermediate country below
us appeared alternations of fine valleys and stony ranges, such as
we had just been crossing. From here a descent of two miles brought
us to a creek having a northern course, but on tracing it down for
about a mile, we found it to turn to the south-east and join
another from the north. We crossed over to the latter on a
north-by-west course, and camped on the west bank. It has a broad
sandy channel; the waterholes are large, but not deep; the banks
are bordered with fine white gums, and are in some places very
scrubby. There is abundance of rich green feed everywhere in the
vicinity. We found here numerous indications of blacks having been
here, but saw nothing of them. It seems remarkable that where their
tracks ar