e plains of good soil commenced, stretching from N. to S. as
far as the eye could reach, on which there were many kangaroos.
Continuing to journey over them, he reached a creek at 5 p.m. on which
the wild fowl were numerous, running nearly north and south, and he
rested on its banks for the night. The timber consisted both of blue
and rough gum, and the soil was a light earth.

Mr. Hume expected in the course of the day to have reached the
Macquarie, but on arriving at the creek, he began to doubt whether it
any longer existed, or whether it had not taken a more westerly
direction. On the following morning, therefore, he crossed the creek,
and travelled W.S.W., for about two miles over good plains; then
through light brushes of swamp-oak, cypress, box, and acacia pendula,
for about twelve miles, to another creek leading northerly. He shortly
afterwards ascended a range of hills stretching W.N.W. to which he gave
the name of New Year's Range. From these hills, he had an extensive
view, although not upon the highest part, but the only break he could
see in the horizon was caused by some hills bearing by compass W. by S.
distant about twenty-five miles. There was, however, an appearance as
of high land to the northward, although Mr. Hume thought it might have
been an atmospheric deception. From the range he looked in vain for the
Macquarie, or other waters, and, as his provisions were nearly
consumed, he was obliged to give up all further pursuit, and to retrace
his steps. He fell in with two parties of natives, which, taken
collectively, amounted to thirty-five in number, but had no
communication with them.

It was evident, from the above account, that supposing a line to have
been drawn from the camp northerly, Mr. Hume must have travelled
considerably to the westward of it, and as I had run on a N.W. course
from the marshes, it necessarily followed that our lines of route must
have intersected each other, or that want of extension could alone have
prevented them from having done so; but that, under any circumstances,
they could not have been very far apart. This was too important a point
to be left undecided, as upon it the question of the Macquarie's
termination seemed to depend.

Both Mr. Hume and myself were of opinion, that a medium course would be
the most satisfactory for us to pursue, to decide this point; and it
appeared that we could not do better than, by availing ourselves of the
creek on which we were, an