Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia | Page 8

washed out by the rains into shallow holes, well
known by the squatters under the name of melon-holes; the composing
rock of the low ridges was a clayey sandstone (Psammite). Sky cloudy;
wind north-east; thermometer 80 degrees at 2 o'clock; the sunshine
plant (Mimosa terminalis) was frequent on the black soil; a Swainsonia;
an Anthericum, with allium leaf and fine large yellow blossoms; and
another species with small blossoms, (Stypandra).
Oct. 9.--Commenced with cloudy weather, threatening rain. It cleared
up, however, about 10 o'clock, and we had a very warm day. We
followed the course of the river for some time, which is fringed with
Myal scrubs, separated by hills with fine open forest. Finding that the
river trended so considerably to the northward [It seems that
NORTHWARD here is merely miswritten for WESTWARD.--(ED.)],
we left it at a westerly bend, hoping to make it again in a north-west
direction. Thus, we continued travelling through a beautiful undulating
country, until arrested by a Bricklow scrub, which turned us to the
south-west; after having skirted it, we were enabled to resume our
course to W.N.W., until the decline of day made me look for water to
the south-west. The scrubs were awful, and threatened to surround us;
but we succeeded in finding a fine large lagoon, probably filled by the
drainage of the almost level country to the north-east. No water-course,
not the slightest channel produced by heavy rains, was visible to
indicate the flow of waters. Occasionally we met with swampy ground,
covered with reeds, and with some standing water of the last rains; the
ground was so rotten, that the horses and bullocks sunk into it over the
fetlocks. The principal timber trees here, are the bastard box, the
flooded-gum, and the Moreton Bay ash; in the Myal scrub, Coxen's
Acacia attains a very considerable size; we saw also some Ironbark
trees.
The tracks and dung of cattle were observed; and this was the farthest
point to the westward where we met with them. Kangaroos seemed to
be very rare; but kangaroo rats were numerous. Black-fellows were
very near to us last night; they very probably withdrew upon seeing us
make our appearance.

Oct. 10.--Cloudy; wind northerly; thermometer at 2h. 30m. P. M. 88
degrees. At about 1 1/2 or 2 miles distance, in a north-west direction
from our last camp, we came to a fine running creek from the
north-east, which we easily crossed; and, at about one mile farther,
reached a creek--which, at this time of the year, is a chain of
lagoons--lined on both sides by Bricklow scrub, which occupied a
portion of its limited flats in little points and detached groves. This vale
was one of the most picturesque spots we had yet seen. An Ironbark
tree, with greyish fissured bark and pale-green foliage, grows here, and
Sterculia heterophylla is pretty frequent amongst the box and
flooded-gum, on the rising ground between the two creeks. Farther on,
the country opened, the scrub receded; Ironbark ridges here and there,
with spotted gum, with dog-wood (Jacksonia) on a sandy soil, covered
with flint pebbles, diversified the sameness. The grass was beautiful,
but the tufts distant; the Ironbark forest was sometimes interspersed
with clusters of Acacias; sometimes the Ironbark trees were small and
formed thickets. Towards the end of the stage, the country became
again entirely flat, without any indication of drainage, and we were in
manifest danger of being without water. At last, a solitary lagoon was
discovered, about 30 yards in diameter, of little depth, but with one
large flooded gum-tree, marked, by a piece of bark stripped off, as the
former resting-place of a native; the forest oak is abundant. Here I first
met with Hakea lorea, R. Br., with long terete drooping leaves, every
leaf one and a-half to two feet long--a small tree 18--24 minutes
high--and with Grevillea mimosoides, R. Br., also a small tree, with
very long riband-like leaves of a silvery grey. We did not see any
kangaroos, but got a kangaroo rat and a bandicoot.
Oct. 11.--Travelling north-west we came to a Cypress-pine thicket,
which formed the outside of a Bricklow scrub. This scrub was, at first,
unusually open, and I thought that it would be of little extent; I was,
however, very much mistaken: the Bricklow Acacia, Casuarinas and a
stunted tea-tree, formed so impervious a thicket, that the bullocks, in
forcing their way through it, tore the flour-bags, upset their loads, broke
their straps, and severely tried the patience of my companions, who
were almost continually occupied with reloading one or other of the
restless brutes. Having travelled five miles into it, and finding no
prospect of its termination, I resolved upon returning to our last camp,

which, however, I was not enabled to effect, without experiencing great
difficulty, delay,