I thought it best therefore to move the camp to a more distant situation with as little delay as possible, and send Mr.Poole to visit the ranges, and ascertain from their summit the probable character of the N.W.

interior.
Having come to this decision, I procured a guide to accompany that officer to the hills, who accordingly started for them, with Mr.Stuart, my draftsman, the morning after our arrival at the ponds.

Some of the natives had informed us that there was plenty of feed at the head of Cawndilla Lake, a distance of seven or eight miles to the W.S.W.; but we could not understand from them how far the waters of the Darling had passed up the creek, although it was clear from what they said that they had not yet reached Cawndilla.

My instructions to Mr.Poole were framed with a view to our removal from our present position nearer to the ranges, and I therefore told him to cross the creek at the head of the water, and if he should find grass there, to return to the camp, if not, to continue his journey to the hills, and use every effort to find water and feed.

We had had a good deal of rain during the night of the 10th; the morning of the 11th was hazy, with the wind at S.W., and there appeared to be every prospect of continued wet.