d for our
trouble. The view extended far and wide, but we were again disappointed
in the main object that had induced us to undertake the journey. I took
the following bearings by compass. Oxley's Table Land bore N. 40 E.
distant forty-five miles; small and distant hill due E.; conical peak
seen from Oxley's Table Land S. 60 E., very distant; long ridge of high
land, S.E., distant thirty-five miles; high land, S. 30 E., distant
thirty miles; long range, S. 25 W.

To the westward, as a medium point, the horizon was unbroken, and the
eye wandered over an apparently endless succession of wood and plain. A
brighter green than usual marked the course of the mountain torrents in
several places, but there was no glittering light among the trees, no
smoke to betray a water hole, or to tell that a single inhabitant was
traversing the extensive region we were overlooking. We were obliged to
return to the plain on which we had breakfasted, and to sleep upon it.

D'URBAN'S GROUP.

D'Urban's Group is of compact sandstone formation. Its extreme length
is from E.S.E. to W.N.W., and cannot be more than from seven to nine
miles, whilst its breadth is from two to four. The central space forms
a large basin, in which there are stunted pines and eucalyptus scrub,
amid huge fragments of rocks. It rises like an island from the midst of
the ocean, and as I looked upon it from the plains below, I could
without any great stretch of the imagination, picture to myself that it
really was such. Bold and precipitous, it only wanted the sea to lave
its base; and I cannot but think that such must at no very remote
period have been the case, and that the immense flat we had been
traversing, is of comparatively recent formation.

We reached the camp on the 28th of the month, by nearly the same route;
and were happy to find that, after the few days' rest they had enjoyed,
there was a considerable improvement in the animals.

Our experience of the nature of the country to the southward, and the
westward, was such as to deter us from risking anything, by taking such
a direction as was most agreeable to our views. Nothing remained to us
but to follow the creek, or to retreat; and as we could only be induced
to adopt the last measure when every other expedient should have
failed, we determined on pursuing our original plan, of tracing New
Year's Creek as far as practicable.

DESCRIPTION OF OXLEY'S TABLE LAND.

Oxley's Table Land is situated in lat. 2