sion that the
river was still to the south, and that we were at a point to which many
watercourses from the high lands tended, I crossed the creek early in
the morning, and held a S.W. course, over an open forest country. At
about eight miles, we came upon a large space over-run by the polygonum
junceum, a certain indication of flooded ground, and of our consequent
proximity to some stream. Accordingly, after pushing through it, we
struck upon a small creek with abundance of water in it. Whether this
creek was the Castlereagh, which it resembled much more than the one we
had left in the morning, was doubtful; but it was a great source of
comfort to us to have so unexpected a supply of water as that which was
now at our disposal. Whatever channel this was, whether a river or a
creek, our tracing it down would lead us in the direction we wished to
go, and probably to some junction.

The neighbourhood of the creek was well clothed with vegetation, and
the cattle found good feed; but the only trees near it were rough-gum
and casuarinae; the flooded-gum had again disappeared. The soil of the
forest land over which we journeyed was a light sandy loam; and its
timber consisted chiefly of eucalypti, acacia pendula, and the
angophora.

Some natives visited us in the afternoon, and among them, both Mr. Hume
and I recognized one of those we had seen on the Darling. He also knew
us again, but we could not make out from him how far we were from that
river. They stayed with us till sunset, and then went down the creek,
leaving their spears against a tree, for which they said they would
return.

On the 23rd we took up a W.N.W. course, and when we again touched on
the creek it was dry. This was at a distance of about five miles from
where we had slept. As the animals had not recovered from their late
privations, I deemed it better to halt the party and to examine the
creek for a few miles below us, that in case it should prove destitute
of water, we might return to that we had left. Mr. Hume accordingly
rode down it for about three miles, without success; and on his
rejoining the men, we returned with them to our last camp, or to within
a short distance of it. Wishing to examine the creek above our
position, I requested Mr. Hume to take two men with him, and to trace
it down in search of water, while I should proceed in the opposite
direction. I went from the camp at an early hour, and as I wandered
along the creek, I passed a regu