Before I had proceeded many miles, some heavy clouds which had collected from the westward, poured down a deluge of rain, accompanied by violent peals of thunder and vivid lightning: the electric fluid burst with such crashing sounds, that I expected to see the trees shattered in ten thousand pieces by my side. Not having encumbered myself with a cloak, I was fully exposed to the pelting for nearly half an hour, when wind, rain, and accompaniments subsiding, the reappearance of the sun soon dissipated the moisture from the ground, as also from myself; and by the time I arrived at the end of my journey, my apparel was as dry as when I set out. Although this would have been in our English climate an occurrence injurious to health, yet here it is rare that any ill effects arise from it; the same remark may equally apply to the custom of sleeping in the bush at night when travelling, from which no traveller has been known to sustain injury. The road continued excellent as I proceeded; but during the wet season is probably (being similar to that before passed over) nearly impassable. The feature of the country was open forest, abounding in luxuriant grass: occasionally a denser forest would vary the scene; the hills were thinly wooded, and the declivities carpeted with verdure. At last, the gloomy appearance and peculiar growth of the “swamp oaks” indicated the vicinity of a creek, which emptied itself into the Murrumbidgee river; and, on ascending the hill near it, the ripe wheat field, and mud hovel appeared; and large “swamp oaks,” “water gum,” and other trees, directed my attention to the situation where the Murrumbidgee river flowed: this was the station named “Jugiong,” the property of Henry O’Brien, Esq.; and, descending the hill, I arrived at the dirty hut of the station, my only place of rest for the night, after a journey of thirty-six miles. I found in this, as in other instances, more animation and beauty in the vicinity of a river, than in other portions of the land; imparting cheerfulness to the traveller, as well as to the whole animal creation. The numerous feathered tribe welcome him with songs and chirpings, rarely heard in the less watered and gloomy places, so much abounding in the colony: a livelier green is seen in the foliage of the trees; pasturage and flowering shrubs cast a beauty over the soil, and the journey about such places is less fatiguing, because it is more interesting and cheering. It was not long since that marked trees alone guided the traveller to these stations; whereas, now a well-beaten road, passable even for gigs, has been formed, making travelling upon it very agreeable.