August 6.—­At eight o’clock the horses set forward with half the baggage; with considerable difficulty they at length reached the hill, and were immediately sent back for the remainder of the stores.  The hill was about three miles from our camp, and from it a view of Arbuthnot’s Range was obtained, distant nine or ten miles:  its elevated points were extremely lofty, and of a dark, barren, and gloomy appearance; the rocks were of a dark grey, approaching to black, and from their crevices, a few stunted trees protruded themselves.  It was half past three o’clock before every thing was removed to the foot of the hill, when it was much too late to think of proceeding, anxious as we were to arrive at the main range itself.  We killed this day one of the largest kangaroos we had seen in any part of New South Wales, being from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty pounds weight.  These animals live in flocks like sheep; and I do not exaggerate, when I say that some hundreds were seen in the vicinity of this hill; it was consequently named Kangaroo Hill:  several beautiful little rills of water have their source in it, but are soon lost in the immeasurable morass at its base.

August 7.—­About a mile from Kangaroo Hill, after crossing a marshy plain, we came to a limestone rock, spreading in smaller pieces over a low hill.  It is somewhat remarkable, that this stone should again be found precisely under the same meridian as seen on the Lachlan and Macquarie Rivers:  the same stratum appears to have run from south to north, upwards of two hundred miles.  This hill is certainly its northern termination, since beyond it the low and marshy plains of the interior commence.  At one o’clock we arrived under the hill which Mr. Evans had previously ascended:  at this spot I intended to remain a couple of days, as well to refresh the horses, as for the purpose of ascending Mount Exmouth, from whence I promised myself an extensive view of the country over which our intended route lay.  On ascending the hill before mentioned, I was surprised with the remarkable effect which the situation appeared to have on the compass.  The station I had chosen was the highest part, and nearly the centre of the hill; placing the compass on the rock before me, the card flew round with extreme velocity, and then suddenly settled at opposite points, the north point becoming the south.  Astonished at such a phenomenon, I made the following observations.  The compass on the rock, Mount Exmouth, bore S. 60.  W. (its true bearing being N. 75.  E.), and on raising it gradually to the eye, the card was violently agitated, and the same point now bore N. 67.  E. About one hundred yards farther south, the compass was again placed on the rock; the effect on the compass was very different, Mount Exmouth bore E. 48.  S., and the tent in the valley beneath S. 74.  W. The card on raising the compass was rather less agitated than before, and from the eye, Mount Exmouth bore