were fine sheets of water, apparently much frequented
by ducks and other aquatic birds.

LEVEL FOREST COUNTRY.

At exactly 2 1/2 miles from the river we reached the outer bank or berg,
and resumed at length the straight course homewards, for I there found a
level forest country open before me, through which we travelled about
eight miles in a south-east direction. We then encamped near some
waterholes which I found on our right, in the surface of a clay soil and
close to a plain extending southward. The wood throughout the forest
consisted of the box or goborro species of eucalyptus and we crossed,
soon after first entering it, a small plain. At 3 1/2 miles from the last
camp on this line, the low alluvial bed of the river with a deep lagoon
in it as broad as the river itself appeared close to us on the left; and
as I had seen some indications of the Bayunga on the other side also, or
to our right, it was obvious that we had just met with this river at one
of its most western bends, an object I had in view in following down the
Deegay from the westward. The forest country traversed by the party this
day was in general grassy and good and, as it was open enough to afford a
prospect of about a mile around us, we travelled on in a straight line
with unwonted ease and facility.

October 10.

We continued our journey homeward through a country of the same character
as that seen yesterday, at least for the first five miles, when we came
at length to a chain of deep ponds, the second we had encountered that
morning. In the bank of this I found a stratum of alluvium; but beyond it
the soil was granitic, and banksia was seen there for the first time
after crossing the river. At 7 1/4 miles we met with another chain of
large ponds, and at 9 miles a running stream flowing to the north-west.
After passing over various other chains of ponds we encamped at the end
of 14 1/2 miles near the bank of a running stream in which were also some
deep pools and which, from some flowers growing there, were named by the
men Violet Ponds.

October 11.

Having turned my course a little more towards the east in order to keep
the hills in view, chiefly for the more convenient continuance of the
survey, we passed through a country abundantly watered at that time, the
party having crossed eight running streams besides chains of ponds in
travelling only 14 miles. Towards the end of the day's journey we found
ourselves once more on undulating gro