8 .-- We followed the Dawson for about eight miles lower down.

About four miles from our camp, it is joined by a fine chain of ponds from the north-east.

The flats on both sides are covered by open Bastard-box forest, of a more or less open character.

In the rainy season, the whole valley is probably covered with water; for we frequently observed the marks of torrents rushing down from the hills; and, along the foot of the ridges, ponds and lagoons were frequent.

The heat of summer had already burnt up a great part of the grasses; and it was only in the immediate neighbourhood of the river that there was any appearance of verdure.