To the eastward, as a medium point, it was covered with a dense scrub, that extended to the base of a range of hills, distant about 33 miles, the extremities of which bore 71 degrees and 152 degrees respectively from us.

But although the country under them was covered with brush, the hills appeared to be clear and denuded of brushes of any kind.

Our position here was about 138 miles from the Darling, and about 97 from the Depot.

My object in this excursion had been to ascertain the characteristic of the country between us and the Darling, but I did not think it necessary to run any risks with my horses, by pushing on for the hills, as I could not have reached them until late the following day, when in the event of not finding water, their fate would have been sealed; for we could not have returned with them to the creek.

They had already been two days without, if I except the little we had spared them from the casks.