secution of our course into the interior--Mosquito Brush--Aspect and
productions of the country--Hunting party of natives--Courageous
conduct of one of them--Mosquitoes--A man missing--Group of hills
called New-Year's Range--Journey down New-Year's Creek--Tormenting
attack of the kangaroo fly--Dreariness and desolation of the
country--Oxley's Table Land--D'Urban's Group--Continue our journey down
New-Year's Creek--Extreme Disappointment on finding it salt--Fall in
with a tribe of natives--Our course arrested by the want of fresh
water--Extraordinary sound--Retreat towards the Macquarie.

We left our position at the head of the plain early on the 13th of
January, and, ere the sun dipped, had entered a very different country
from that in which we had been labouring for the last three weeks. We
had, as yet, passed over little other than an alluvial soil, but found
that it changed to a red loam in the brushes immediately backing the
camp. An open forest track succeeded this, over which the vegetation
had an unusual freshness, indicating that the waters had not long
subsided from its surface. We shortly afterwards crossed a hollow,
similar to that Mr. Hume had described, in which bulrushes had taken
the place of reeds. Flooded-gum trees, of large size, were also growing
in it, but on either side box alone prevailed, under which the forest
grass grew to a considerable height. We crossed the hollow two or three
times, and as often remarked the line of separation between those
trees. The last time we crossed it the country rose a few feet, and we
journeyed for the remainder of the day, at one time over good plains,
at another through brushes, until we found water and feed, at which we
stopped for the night, after having travelling about thirteen miles on
a W. by N. course. The mosquitoes were so extremely troublesome at this
place that we called it Mosquito Brush. At this time my men were
improving rapidly, and Mr. Hume complained less, and looked better. I
hoped, therefore, that our progress would be rapid into the interior.

CREEK LEADING NORTHERLY; PRODUCTIONS OF THE COUNTRY.

On the 14th we took up a westerly course, and in the first instance
traversed a plain of great extent; the soil of which was for the most
part a red sandy loam, but having patches of light earth upon it. The
former was covered with plants of the chenopedia kind; the latter had
evidently been quagmires, and bore even then the appearance of
moisture.