Passing through a wood, at the extremity of the plain, I found myself at the outskirts of an open space of great extent, almost wholly enveloped in flames.

The fire was running with incredible rapidity through the rhagodia shrubs with which it was covered.

Passing quickly over it, I continued my journey to the N.W.over barren plains of red sandy loam of even surface, and bushes of cypresses skirted by acacia pendula.

It was not until after sunset that we struck upon a creek, in which the water was excellent; and we halted on its banks for the night, calculating our distance at twenty-nine miles from the camp.

The creek was of considerable size, leading northerly.