gave a cheerfulness to the scene that was altogether unusual. The
opposite side of the river was rather undulated, and the soil appeared
to be of the finest description. The grass, although growing in tufts,
afforded abundance of pasture for the cattle; and, on the whole, this
struck me as a most eligible spot for a station, and I found it
occupied as such on the return of the expedition. We had encamped about
a quarter of a mile from Taylor's Rivulet, which discharges itself into
the Macquarie from the N. E., and is the first stream, upon the right
bank, below the Wellington Valley.

Immediately after receiving it the river sweeps away to the southward,
in consequence of which it became again necessary for us to cross it.
Our guides, who were intelligent lads, led the cattle to a ford, a
little below the junction of Taylor's Rivulet, at which we effected a
passage with some difficulty; the opposite bank being very steep, and
we were obliged to force our way up a gully for some eighty or a
hundred yards before we could extricate the team. Pursuing our journey,
in a N. W. direction, we soon left the rich and undulating grounds
bordering the river behind us. A poor, level, and open country,
succeeded them. The soil changed to a light red, sandy loam, on which
eucalypti, cypresses, and casuarinae, were intermixed with minor
shrubs; of which latter, the cherry tree (exocarpus cupressiformis) was
the most prevalent.

At about seven miles from the river we passed some barren freestone
ridges, near which Mr. Hume killed the first kangaroo we had seen. At
mid-day we passed a small creek, at which the cattle were watered; and
afterwards continued our journey through a country similar to that over
which we had already made our way.

As we neared the stream we noticed the acacia pendula for the first
time,--an indication of our approach to the marshes. The weather still
continued extremely hot. Our journey this day was unusually long, and
our cattle suffered so much, and moved so slowly, that it was late when
we struck upon the Macquarie, at a part where its banks were so high
that we had some difficulty in finding a good watering place.

SURPRISE SOME NATIVES.

Being considerably in front of the party, with one of our guides, when
we neared the river, I came suddenly upon a family of natives. They
were much terrified, and finding that they could not escape, called
vehemently to some of their companions, who were in the dist