OBLIGED TO KILL ONE OF OUR WORKING BULLOCKS.

Symptoms of famine now began to show themselves in the sullenness of some of the men, and I most reluctantly allowed them to kill one of our poor working animals, which was accordingly shot as soon as we encamped and divided amongst the party.

BY FOLLOWING THE VALLEY DOWNWARDS, WE ARRIVE ON THE MURRUMBIDGEE.

The valley preserved a course somewhat to the westward of north, and I now felt confident that by following it downwards we should reach the Murrumbidgee without meeting further impediment. This unexpected relief from the hopeless prospects of the drizzling morning was infinitely more refreshing to me than any kind of food could possibly have been, even under such circ.u.mstances.

October 24.

As we continued our journey downwards the waterholes in the chain of ponds became small and scarce, while we found the cattle-tracks more and more numerous. No change took place in the character of the valley for nine miles; but I recognised then at no great distance the hills which on the 22nd I had supposed to lie beyond the Murrumbidgee. On riding to a small eminence on the right I perceived the dark umbrageous trees overshadowing that n.o.ble river, and close before me the rich open flats with tame cattle browsing upon them, or reclining in luxuriant ease, very unlike the wild herd. The river was flowing westward over a gravelly bottom, its scenery being highly embellished by the lofty casuarinae, whose sombre ma.s.ses of darkest green cover the water so gracefully and afford both coolness and shade. Now we could trace the marks of hors.e.m.e.n 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 pa.s.sed, 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 b.u.t.ter. 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 antic.i.p.ated 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.

Ya.s.s 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.

Upper Shoalhaven.

Carwary.

Vast subsidence on a mountain there.

Goulburn township.

Great road.

Towrang hill.

The Wollondilly.

Wild country through which it flows.

The Nattai.

Moyengully.

Arrive at the line of great road.

Convict workmen.

Berrima bridge.

Berrima.

Trap range.

Sandstone country.

The Illawarra.

Lupton's inn.

The Razorback.

Ford of the Nepean.

Campbelltown.

Liverpool.

Lansdowne bridge.

Arrive at Sydney.

General remarks on the character of the settled country.

Fires in the woods.

Necessity for cutting roads.

Proportion of good and bad land.

Description of Australia Felix.

Woods.

Harbours.

The Murray.

Mr. Stapylton's report.

The aboriginal natives.

Turandurey.

My mode of communicating with Mr. Stapylton.

Survey of the Murrumbidgee.

Meteorological journal.

Arrival of the exploring party at Sydney.

Piper.

The two Tommies.

Ballandella.

Character of the natives of the interior.

Language.

Habits of those of Van Diemen's Land the same.

Temporary huts.

Mode of climbing trees.

Remarkable customs.

Charmed stones.

Females excluded from superst.i.tious rites.

Bandage or fillet around the temples.

Striking out the tooth.