und, and I at length perceived on my
right that particular height which, at a distance of 80 miles back, I had
selected as a guiding point in the direction which then appeared the most
open part of the horizon, this being also in the best line for reaching
the Murrumbidgee below Yass. It was the elevated northern extremity of a
range connected with others still more lofty which arose to the
south-east. We crossed some undulating ground near its base on which grew
trees of stringybark, a species of eucalyptus which had not been
previously seen in the forests traversed by us in our way from the river.
We next entered a valley of a finer description of land than that of the
level forest; and we encamped on the bank of a stream which formed deep
reedy ponds, having travelled 14 miles.

As soon as I had marked out the ground for the party I proceeded towards
a hill which bore east-south-east from our camp and was distant from it
about 5 1/2 miles. On our way an emu ran boldly up, apparently desirous
of becoming acquainted with our horses; when close to us it stood still
and began quietly to feed like a domestic fowl so that I was at first
unwilling to take a shot at the social and friendly bird. The state of
our flour however, and the recollection of our one remaining sheep
already doomed to die, at length overcame my scruples, and I fired my
carabine but missed. The bird ran only to a little distance however, and
soon returned at a rapid rate again to feed beside us when, fortunately
perhaps for the emu, I had no more time to spare for such sport and we
proceeded.

ASCEND A HEIGHT NEAR THE CAMP, AND OBTAIN A SIGHT OF SNOWY SUMMITS TO THE
EASTWARD.

The top of the hill was covered thickly with wood, but I saw for the
first time for some years snowy pics far in the south-east beyond
intermediate mountains also of considerable elevation. There was one low
group of heights to the northward, but these were apparently the last,
for the dead level of the interior was visible beyond them to the
north-west. Further eastward a bold range extended too far towards the
north to be turned conveniently by us in our proposed route; but under
its high southern extremity (a very remarkable point) its connection with
the mountains on the south appeared very low, and thither I determined to
proceed. One isolated hill far in the north-western interior had already
proved a useful point and was still visible here. I also saw the distant
ranges