The young
birds generally sat on a branch near the hole in which they had been
hatched, and set up a most discordant noise about every quarter of an
hour, when the old ones returned to them with food.
On trying the thermometers, one on Lewis's Hill, and the other on the
Black Hill, I found that they boiled at 209 degrees and 208 degrees
respectively.
On the 26th Jones was unfortunate enough to snap the pole of his dray,
and I was consequently detained on the 27th repairing it. I was the more
vexed at the accident, being anxious to push over the ranges and gain the
plains, in order to prevent Mr. Poole the necessity of re-ascending them.
I felt satisfied that I should find a sufficiency both of water and feed
at the gorge of the Rocky Glen, to enable me to rest until more thorough
knowledge of the country could be gained, whilst by encamping at that
place I should save Mr. Poole a journey of 63 miles.
As we descended from the ranges I observed that all the water I had seen
glittering on the plains had disappeared; I found too that the larger
water-hole in the glen had rather fallen than increased during the rains.
The fact however was, that the under-drainage had not yet reached the
lower part of the gully.
We were now about 24 miles from the second creek Mr. Browne and I had
crossed on our recent excursion, and from Flood's examination of it
afterwards, I felt assured that unless a party was sent forward to dig a
large hole for the cattle I could not prudently advance any farther for
the present; but being anxious to push on, and hoping that the late rains
had increased the supply of water in the creek, I sent Flood on the 28th
with two of the men (Joseph and Sullivan) to dig a tank in the most
favourable spot he could select, and followed him with the drays on the
29th.
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