August 29.—­On our departure we almost immediately descended a rocky and steep hill, covered with cypress and small brush; from thence we descended upon a level forest country, which continued for the remainder of our journey (seven and a half miles), to the edge of the extensive flat which we had seen yesterday.  As we should not have been able to cross it before nightfall, I thought it better to remain where there was plenty of grass and water.  From our tent we had a singularly picturesque and pleasing prospect.  To the north, Hardwicke’s Range, distant between forty and fifty miles:  the country broken into low forest hills and plains to its base.  To the north-east, east, and south-east, our view was bounded by beautiful forest hills seldom rising to any great elevation, thinly wooded, and covered with grass.  These hills bounded the plains, and varied in distance from ten to thirty miles.  To the north-east the country was lowest, but appeared good and open:  that part of the plain near which we encamped was wet and marshy; and the horizontal level of the whole appeared to warrant the supposition that at some (perhaps not distant) period, these vast plains formed chains of inland lakes, which the washings from the hills have now nearly filled up; as the water at present does not exceed a few inches in depth, and is only partially spread on the surface, forming but a moderate proportion of the whole.  In dry seasons there is evidently none:  the hills passed over this day were of a curious species of pudding-stone and freestone.  The hills on the opposite side of the plains were named Melville Hills, in honour of the first Lord of the Admiralty; and the valley at the extremity of it leading to Hardwicke’s Range, Barrow’s Valley, after one of the secretaries of that board.

August 30.—­A day of rest and refreshment to ourselves and horses.  Game abounds, and our dogs abundantly supply us.  The observations made here, place our situation in lat. 31. 7., long. 150. 10.  E.

August 31.—­We were agreeably disappointed, in finding that the wet marshy ground did not extend above three quarters of a mile, the remainder being dry firm land of the richest description:  at six miles we crossed a considerable stream, running to the north through Barrow’s Valley:  this stream, divided the plain into nearly two equal parts, it being ten miles and a half across.  This stream had been very recently flooded, and the water, yet muddy, had not subsided within its proper level; the height of the banks from fifteen to twenty feet.  On the east side of the plain, we found the marsh extend about one mile and a quarter from the forest ground which borders it; though wet, it was now strong ground, and might easily be laid dry.  On quitting the plains we entered a very fine open forest flat, through which we proceeded a mile and a half, and encamped for the evening under a lofty hill named Mount Dundas, by a small spring of excellent water.