Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt, logbook of a journey from Port Stephens to Peak Range, 1 October 1846-3 November 1847 - Page 57

It is natural to suppose that such a fine Country is densely inhabited by natives. We see their tracks every where and past 3 trees which they had cut down with Iron tomihawks and from which they must have obtained a great quantity of honey; but we have not seen any of them.
Last night the sky was overcast and we had a few drops of rain. Some changes are going on in the atmosphere during new moon. This morning it cleared up a little, but we had still a delightful cool travelling weather which was however occasionally intercepted by those scorching sunny moments which are common in sultry weather when the atmosphere is impregnated with moisture. The dew was very strong last night. At noon heavy thunderclouds formed almost in every direction, and threatened to come up, but past without rain. Even now at half past 5 thunder is heard to the Eastward. We came about 11 miles NW. or NW by W.
17th Jan. I kept today more distant from the river at first NNW, afterwards WNW NW and even W. The first part of the stage lay through Boxtree flats and openly-timbered ridges. farther on scrub and scrubplains became frequent and though extremely picturesque intercepted my course and pushed me to the Westward and to the windings of the River. Baichinia was first observed. The leaflets are so small that I think it is a species different from those of the Northward. The scrubplains were extremely rich in pasturage, the grasses extremely various. The Birdmillet, the Woolgrass, the Oatengrass 7 feet high. We encamped at a backwater of the Dawson or rather at a chain of lagoons at the foot of silverleaved Ironbark ridges. Several Kangaroos were seen; a very fat Iguana was killed.
This morning my riding horse was missing and I left Turnbull and Brown behind to find it and to bring it after me. Turnbull found it and came after me; Brown has not yet returned. Sky cloudy in the morning, very hot