[Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia by Ludwig Leichhardt]@TWC D-Link book
Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia

CHAPTER VI
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Emus were very numerous; sometimes a solitary bird, and at others two, three, four, and up to thirteen together, were seen trotting off in long file, and now and then stopping to stare at us.

We caught a bandicoot with two young ones, which gave us an excellent luncheon.

When we left the lake, Charley thought he could distinguish a plain to the northward; and, riding in that direction, I was agreeably surprised to find that the scrub did not extend more than a mile and a-half from the river; and that, beyond it, plains and open forest extended far to the northward; and fine ridges with most excellent feed, to the southward.

The traveller who is merely following the course of a river, is unable to form a correct idea of the country farther off, unless hills are near, from which he may obtain extensive views.

At the water-worn banks of the Mackenzie, I little expected that we were in the vicinity of a country like that of Peak Range; and I am consequently inclined to believe that much more available land exists along the banks of the Suttor, where its valley is covered with scrub, than we know anything about.
March 19 .-- The camp was removed to the lake of the Suttor, about twelve miles and a-half N.80 degrees W.We chased a flock of emus, but without success; four of my companions went duck-shooting, but got very few; the others angled, but nothing would bite.
The day was cloudy; some drizzling rain fell in the morning; the night was clear.Lat.21 degrees 37 minutes 31 minutes.
During my absence, my companions found a quantity of implements and ornaments of the natives, in the neighbourhood of our last camp.
On the plains I found two new species of Sida; and, on the tea-trees, a new form of Loranthus, with flowers in threes on a broad leafy bract, scarcely distinguishable from the real leaves.
March 20 .-- We travelled down to the water-holes, at which I had turned back.


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