seconds, and in lat. 30 degrees 21 minutes
south; the variation of the compass being 6 degrees 40 minutes easterly.

As New Year's Creek was leading northerly, it had been determined to
trace it down as long as it should keep that course, or one to the
westward of it. We broke up the camp, therefore, under the range, on
the evening of the 18th, and moved to the creek, about two miles north
of the place at which we had before crossed it, with the intention of
prosecuting our journey on the morrow. But both Mr. Hume and I were so
fatigued that we were glad of an opportunity to rest, even for a single
day. We remained stationary, therefore, on the 19th; nor was I without
hope that the natives whom we had surprised in the woods, would have
paid us a visit, since Mr. Hume had met them in his search for Norman,
and they had promised not only to come to us, but to do all in their
power to find the man, whose footsteps some of them had crossed. They
did not, however, venture near us; and I rather attribute their having
kept aloof, to the circumstance of Mr. Hume's having fired a shot,
shortly after he left them, as a signal to Norman, in the event of his
being within hearing of the report. They must have been alarmed at so
unusual a sound; but I am sure nothing was further from Mr. Hume's
intention than to intimidate them; his knowledge of their manners and
customs, as well as his partiality to the natives, being equally
remarkable. The circumstance is, however, a proof of the great caution
that is necessary in communicating with them.

ANNOYED BY KANGAROO FLIES.

I have said that we remained stationary the day after we left the
range, with a view to enjoy a little rest; it would, however, have been
infinitely better if we had moved forward. Our camp was infested by the
kangaroo fly, which settled upon us in thousands. They appeared to rise
from the ground, and as fast as they were swept off were succeeded by
fresh numbers. It was utterly impossible to avoid their persecution,
penetrating as they did into the very tents.

The men were obliged to put handkerchiefs over their faces, and
stockings upon their hands; but they bit through every thing. It was to
no purpose that I myself shifted from place to place; they still
followed, or were equally numerous everywhere. To add to our
discomfort, the animals were driven almost to madness, and galloped to
and fro in so furious a manner that I was apprehensive some of them
would h