of some low ranges to the north, but these were partially hidden by some nearer ridges.  The summit of one of these was a mass of exposed rock, similar in appearance to Ularring and remarkably high, but as it was five or six miles away from our line, which was now nearly west, we did not visit it.  At fifteen miles from camp we sighted from the top of an undulation in the scrub, a pointed hill a little south of west, also another higher and longer, and lying more southerly.  We could not reach the pointed hill by night.  The country is now more densely scrubby than ever, and although we toiled the whole day, we only made good twenty-four miles.  Upon nearing the hill the following morning we saw some grass-trees and passed between two salt-lakes.  At ten miles Mr. Young and I were upon the top of the hill; the scrubs surrounding it were so terribly thick that I thought we should have to chop our way through them, and we had the greatest difficulty in getting the caravan to move along at all.  I was much surprised at the view I obtained here; in the first place as we were now gradually approaching Mount Churchman, the hill to the south was, or should have been, Mount Jackson, but according to my chart there were no hills visible in any easterly or northeasterly direction from Mount Jackson, whereas from the range to the south, not only the hill I was upon, but all the others in various directions, must also have been seen from it.  This was rather puzzling, and the only way I could account for the anomaly was that either Gregory had never ascended Mount Jackson at all, though according to his map he calls the whole eastern country beyond it sand plains, or these hills have been thrown up since 1846.  The latter I cannot believe.  The composition of this hill was almost iron itself, and there were some fused stones like volcanic slag upon it.  It was too magnetic for working angles with a compass; it was between 500 and 600 feet above the surrounding regions.  The horizon from east, north-east, round by north, thence to the west and south, was bounded by low ranges, detached into seven groups; the white beds of small lakes were visible running up to the northern, or north eastern group, the intervening country being, as usual, all scrubs, which grew even to the summits of the hills.  The view from this hill was enough to terrify the spectator; my only consolation in gazing at so desolate a scene, was that my task was nearly accomplished, and nothing should stop me now.  A second pointed hill lay nearly west, and we pushed on to this, but could not reach it by night.

To-day we managed to get thirty-four Lowans’ eggs, yesterday we had secured twenty-seven.  These birds swarm in these scrubs, and their eggs form a principal item in the daily fare of the natives during the laying season.  We seldom see the birds, but so long as we get the eggs I suppose we have no great cause of complaint.  In the morning we reached and ascended the second hill.  Some other hills