nt horizon was
not quite so level as the plains of the interior usually are and, as far
as I could see northward with a good telescope, I perceived open forest
land and various fine sheets of water. I observed with great satisfaction
that the Grampians terminated to the westward on a comparatively low
country. This was an important object of attention to me then as it
comprised all that intervened between us and the southern coast; in which
direction I perceived only one or two groups of conical hills. I resolved
however, before turning southwards, to extend our journey to the isolated
mass already mentioned, which I afterwards named Mount Arapiles. After
descending from Mount Zero I proceeded towards the track of the carts and
found that the plains, unlike any hitherto seen, undulated so much that
in one place I could perceive only the tops of trees in the hollows. On
these plains I found small nodules of highly ferruginous sandstone,
apparently similar to that which occurs near Jervis Bay and in other
places along the eastern coast.

CIRCULAR LAKE, BRACKISH WATER.

Reaching at length a low green ridge of black soil very different from
that of the plains, I found it formed the eastern bank of another of
those remarkable circular lakes of which I had seen so many near the
Murray. The bed of this hollow consisted of rich black earth and was
thirty-two feet below the level of the adjacent plain. It seemed nearly
circular, the diameter being about three-quarters of a mile. One
peculiarity in this lake was a double bank on the eastern side consisting
first of a concentric break or slope from the plain, the soil not being
clay as usual, but a dry red sand; and then arose the green bank of black
earth, leaving a concentric fosse or hollow between. A belt of yarra
trees grew around the edge of this singular hollow which was so dry and
firm that the carts, in the track of which I was riding, had traversed it
without difficulty. I learnt from Mr. Stapylton, on reaching the camp,
that the party had previously passed near two other lakes, the largest
containing salt water; and in the neighbourhood of these he had also
remarked a great change of soil; so that what with the verdure upon it,
the undulating surface, and clumps of casuarinae on light soil, or lofty
yarra trees growing in black soil, that part of the country looked
tolerably well.

THE MACKENZIE AND THE NORTON.

July 21.

At a quarter of a mile from the camp we cr