green cover the water so gracefully and afford both coolness and shade.  Now we could trace the marks of horsemen on the plain; and as we travelled up the river horses and cattle appeared on both banks.  At length we discovered a small house or station and a stockyard.  On riding up to it an old man came to the door, beating the ashes from a loaf nearly two feet in diameter.  His name was Billy Buckley and the poor fellow received us all with the most cordial welcome, supplying us at once with two days’ provisions until we could send across the river for a supply.  Just then several drays appeared on the opposite side, coming along the ROAD from Sydney, and these drays contained a supply from which Mr. Tompson the owner accommodated me with enough to send back to meet Mr. Stapylton on the banks of the Murray.

WRITE MY DESPATCH.

Having pitched my tent close by the house of my new friend Billy, I wrote a brief account of our proceedings to the government while my horses were permitted to rest two days preparatory to my long ride to Sydney.

PIPER MEETS HIS FRIENDS.

Piper’s joy on emerging from the land of Myalls (or savages) was at least as great as ours, especially when he met here with natives of his acquaintance—­“CIVIL blackfellows,” as he styled them, bel (not) Myalls.  He was at least a Triton among the minnows, and it was pleasant to see how much he enjoyed his lionship among his brethren.  Little Ballandella had been taken great care of by Mrs. Piper and was now feasted with milk and seemed quite happy.

NATIVE NAMES OF RIVERS.

I learnt from the natives we found here their names for the greater rivers we had passed, and of some of the isolated hills.  Everywhere the Murray was known as the Millewa; but I was not so sure about Bayunga, a name which I had understood to apply to the Goulburn, Hovell or Ovens.

A STOCK-KEEPER’S HOSPITALITY.

When Billy Buckley, who was only a stockkeeper at that station, saw my party arrive and was at length aware who we were, he came to me when enjoying a quiet walk on the riverbank at some distance from his house, carrying in his hand a jug of rich milk and a piece of bread which I afterwards learnt, with dismay, had been baked in butter.  I felt bound in civility to partake of both, but the consequence was an illness which very much interfered with my enjoyment of that luxuriant repose I had anticipated in my tent, under the shade of the casuarinae on the brink of the living stream.

CHAPTER 3.14.

Agreeable travelling. 
Appearance of the country on the Murrumbidgee. 
Jugion Creek. 
Brunonia abundant. 
Yass plains. 
The Gap, an inn. 
Bredalbane plains. 
Lake George. 
Soil and rocks. 
The Wollondilly. 
Goulburn plains. 
A garden. 
Public works. 
Shoalhaven river. 
Limestone caverns there. 
County of St. Vincent.