Thursday, 21st March, 1861.--Humid Camp, 33R.--Unable to proceed on
account of the slippery and boggy state of the ground. The rain has
fallen very heavily here to-day, and every little depression in the
ground is either full of water or covered with slimy mud. Another
heavy storm passed over during the night, almost extinguishing the
miserable fire we were able to get up with our very limited
quantity of waterlogged and green wood. Having been so unfortunate
last night, we took an early breakfast this morning at Camp 33,
which I had named the Humid Camp, from the state of dampness in
which we found everything there; and crossing to the east bank of
the main creek, proceeded in a southerly direction nearly parallel
with the creek. Some of the flats near the creek contain the
richest alluvial soil, and are clothed with luxuriant vegetation.
There is an immense extent of plain, back, of the finest character
for pastoral purposes, and the country bears every appearance of
being permanently well watered. We halted on a large billibong at
noon, and were favoured during dinner by a thunderstorm, the
heavier portion of which missed us, some passing north and some
south, which was fortunate, as it would otherwise have spoiled our
baking process, a matter of some importance just now.
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