Part 7 (2/2)

Having dined, we started again at 225 peneral north course over an indifferent scrubby country till 440, e halted for twenty minutes to examine the black shale-like soil which was seen on a for it proved to be only alluvial soil resting on sand; froh sandy hills covered with scrub; the country gradually irassy gully trending north-west, obtaining water in a native well

5th Dece the sarassy hills of granitic formation till 1110, e halted on the eastern branch of the Bowes River; several natives shortly ca eaten some biscuit and pork which we offered to the to the opposite side of the streae rocks; a strict watch was therefore ht

6th Dece stones at the men ent down for the water, but we did not see anyour disapprobation in words, and at 535 am we started on a north-north-west course, the natives followed for about astones at the party The country passed over was generally grassy granite hills till 90, e ascended the high tableland between the valley of the Bowes and Hutt rivers, which last we reached at 1025, and halted during the heat of the day on a pool of brackish water; at 320 peneral course 310 degrees netic, at 610 bivouacked at the spot where we had before halted on the 17th October; the water in the pools brackish, but by digging near a moist bank obtained abundance of fresh water

THE GERALDINE LEAD MINE

7th December

Left our bivouac at 550 ah sandy downs, covered with coarse scrub; at 1030 entered the valley of the Murchison River; at noon halted at our bivouac of the 24th Septe in the sand of the s dined, we resumed our journey at 230 pm, and bivouacked about 50 on the left bank of the Murchison, 500 yards below the large lead vein, obtaining good water in the sandy bed of the river by digging a few inches, the pools being all salt While thethe tents, etc, the Governor proceeded to exareater distance than on the for sunk two feet, exposing many portions of the vein which were before covered

8th Dece it 320 yards in a direction north 30 degrees eastthe bed of the Murchison River, which was nearly dry; clearing the sand and loose stones froht to twenty-four inches in width, the general average being twelve inches, the dip to the west-north-west at an angle of about 80 degrees froth the lead vein appeared to be one solid alena; the northern end either terminates or alters its direction close to a vein of schistose rock, which intersects the adjacent rocks; to the south the lode was covered by several feet of sand, which prevented its being traced further, as we had not time to remove it; the whole of the vein which was traced was included within the banks of the river, and the greater portion was covered by shalloater One specialena showed traces of copper

The rock which prevails on each side of the vein is a hard coood colour, but neiss is sole (someti north and south The facilities which the position of the lode offers for reat, as it occupies the lowest part of the valley, and steam poould be requisite to free the mine from water, and at the same time, unless the small boat-harbour near the mouth of the Hutt River, or Gantheaume Bay (both within thirty miles), be found suitable for the purpose, Champion Bay, distant sixty-two miles in a direct line to the south, is the nearest port where the ore could be shi+pped In the evening the Governor examined the spot where Mr Walcott had discovered the small pieces of lead ore about two and a half miles below the lode, but as most of the pieces had been picked up on that occasion, we could only find a few fragments of it

9th Dece about south-west, made our former bivouac on the Hutt River about 10 pm, and halted for the rest of the day

10th Decenetic over sandy country; passed a srassy valley at 80; halted on the north branch of the Bowes at 1010 on a small pool of brackish water; dined and resurassy country till 610, e halted for the night on a tributary strea, the pools being very small and brackish

CONFLICT WITH NATIVES GOVERNOR SPEARED

11th Decerees netic over an indifferent country till 640, e crossed the south branch of the Bowes, the country i Hereseveral natives, who at first hid the thattheht or ten in nuradually increased till they exceeded fifty, when they altogether changed their friendlyup their spears At 615 we passed to the west of King's Table Hill, and as the country was covered with dense wattle thickets, the natives took advantage of the ground, and having completely surrounded the party, commenced first to threaten to throw their spears, then to throw stones, and finally oneto strike hih without effect; but before I could fire at hi that unless some severe example was made the whole party would be cut off, fired at one of the most forward of our assailants, and killed him; two other shots were fired by the soldiers, but the thickness of the bushes prevented our seeing hat effect A shower of spears, stones, kylies, and dowaks followed, and although we moved to aat any that exposed themselves

At thisjust above the knee, with such force as to cause it to protrude two feet on the other side, which was so far fortunate, as it enabled me to break off the barb and withdraw the shaft The Governor, notwithstanding his wound, continued to direct the party, and although the natives h to reach us with their spears, ere enabled, by keeping on thethe the gullies They followed us closely for sevenin our track Having reached the beach, ere enabled to travel h one of the ponies knocked up, we reached Chaot the party and horses on board the Chaladly welcomed by Lieutenant Helpman About sunset the natives ca thele unarmed native stood on the beach, and called to us to co a sudden attack on the boat should we venture to do so

AC Gregory,

assistant Surveyor

THE MURCHISON RIVER

1857

THE UPPER MURCHISON RIVER