ore than 10 miles.

All drainage in the creek had now ceased, and we were therefore dependent
on the water in the gully, which, although invaluable as a present
supply, would soon have been exhausted, where our total consumption could
not have been less than from 1000 to 1100 gallons a day, for the horses
and bullocks drank a fearful quantity. Had Flood been unsuccessful in the
object of his journey, therefore, I should in the course of a few days
have been obliged to fall back, but he returned on the 7th, bringing news
that he had found a beautiful little creek, in which there were long deep
water-holes shaded by gum-trees, with an abundance of grass in its
neighbourhood. This creek he said was about 40 miles in advance, but
there was no water between us and it. He also confirmed an impression I
had had on my mind from our first crossing the Barrier Range, that it
would not continue to any great distance northwards; Flood said that from
what he could observe the hills appeared to be gradually declining, as if
they would soon terminate. He saw three native women at the creek, but
did not approach them, thinking it better not to excite their alarm.
These were the first natives we had seen on the western side of the
hills.

On the 9th we again moved forward, on a course a little to the eastward
of north, over the barren, stony, and undulating ground that lies between
the main and outer ranges. The discovery of this creek by Flood, so much
finer than any we had hitherto crossed, led me to hope that if the
mountains should cease I might fall in with other ranges beyond them
coming from the north-east, as forming the northwest slope of the valley
of the Darling. I was anxious, therefore, to examine the ranges as we
advanced, and leaving the party in Mr. Poole's charge, rode away to
ascend some of the hills and to take bearings from them to some
particular peaks, the bearing of which had already been taken from
different elevations; but from no hill to which I went could a view of
the south-west horizon be obtained, so much lower had the hills become,
and from their general aspect I was fully satisfied that we should soon
arrive at their termination. From the last point I ascended, as from
others, there was a large mountain bearing N.E. by N. from me, distant 50
or 60 miles, which I rightly judged to be Mount Lyell. It was a bold,
round hill, without any particular feature, but evidently the loftiest
connected with the Barri