The ranges were all flat-topped and devoid of timber, but the vegetation resembled that of the country at their base, and the fragments of rock scattered over them were similar: that is to say, milky quartz, wood opal, granite, and other rocks (none of which occurred in the stratification of these ranges), were to be found on their summits as on the plains, and in equal proportion, as if the whole country had once been perfectly level, and that the hills had been forced up.

Such indeed was the impression upon Mr.Poole's mind, when he returned to me from having visited these ranges.

"They appear," he remarked, "to have been raised from the plains, so similar in every respect are their tops to the district below." Our eyes wandered over an immense expanse of country to the south, and we were enabled to take bearings of many of the hills near the camp, although there was some uncertainty in our recognition of them at the distance of 40 miles.

The Red Hill, however, close to the camp bore south, and was full that distance from us.

We could also see the course of the creeks we had been tracing, ultimately breaking through the range to the eastward and passing into the plains beyond.