The banks were of a stiff, light-coloured
clay, without any vegetation either on them or the contiguous flats,
except a few bushes of polygonum growing under box-trees.
We here stopped to breakfast, although there was but little for the
horses to eat. We then proceeded on a north-east {SOUTH-EAST in published
text} course down the creek, keeping close upon its banks to avoid the
macadamized plains on either side. To our left there were some undulating
hills, and beyond them the summits of some remarkable flat-topped hills
were visible. After leaving the place where we had breakfasted, we did not
find any more water in the bed of the creek, but halted late in the
afternoon at a small lagoon, not far from it. This lagoon was surrounded
by trees; but like those of the creek its waters were muddy and not more
than 18 inches deep. Our latitude at this point was 29 degrees
14 minutes S., and our longitude 141 degrees 42 minutes E.; the variation
being 5 degrees 5 minutes E.
Not wishing to keep Mr. Poole any longer away from the party, I sent him
back to the camp on the 16th, with Mack, directing him to examine the
creek we had crossed on his way homewards; as it appeared to me to break
through some hills about three miles from its junction with the main
creek, and I thought it probable he might there find water. I also
directed him during my absence to trace the creek on which the camp was
established downwards, to ascertain if there was water in it below us.
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