e two little peaks were visible to the N.N.W., and after taking
bearings of several distant points, we descended, as I had determined on
returning for the night to the creek we had passed in the morning, and
tracing it into the hills on my way to the westward. Accordingly, on the
following morning we commenced our journey up it at an early hour, not
knowing where we should next find the water. At about six miles we had
entered a valley, with high land on either side, and at a mile beyond
reached the head of the creek, and had the steep brow of a hill to
ascend, which I thought it most prudent first to attempt on foot. Mr.
Browne and I, therefore, climbed it, and on looking back to the
north-east, saw there was a declining plain in that direction. Over the
level outline the tops of the projections of this range were to be seen
all exactly alike; but there was an open space to the north-east, as if
the fall of waters was to that point. There were also some low scattered
trees upon the plain, seeming to mark the course of a creek. Anxious to
ascertain if we had been so fortunate, I looked for a practicable line
for the horses to ascend, and having got them up the hill, we pushed
forward. On arriving at the first trees, there was a little channel, or
rather gutter, and a greener verdure marked its course along the plain to
the next trees. Gradually it became larger, and at last was fully
developed as a creek. After tracing it down for some miles, having stony
barren plains on both sides, we turned to look for the hill we had so
lately left, and only for a red tint it had peculiar to itself, should we
again have recognised it. We now pushed on in eager anticipation that
sooner or later water would appear, and this hope was at last gratified
by our arrival at a fine pool, into which we drove a brood of very young
ducks, and might, if we had pleased, shot the mother; but although a
roast duck would have been very acceptable, we spared her for her
children's sake. This was a nice pond, but small. It was shaded by
gum-trees, and there was a cavernous clay bank on the west side of it, in
which gravel stones were embedded. Here we staid but for a short time, as
it was early in the day. We had flushed numerous pigeons as we rode
along, and flights came to the water while we stopped, but were not
treated with the same forbearance as the duck. We shot two or three, and
capital eating they were. About 3, we had left the creek, as it
app