Part 20 (1/2)

There was little or no change in the appearance of the country for the eighteen or twentyto-day We encamped on the bank of a wide and deep reach of water , surrounded by tall reeds Fish were caught here in great abundance

Carees 31 minutes 48 seconds

NATIVE CAMP

21st Septe we crossed the bed of a tributary co in from the southward, with a shallow sandy channel 200 yards wide, which es between the DeGrey and Shaw Rivers, which we passed over on our outward track In an to observe patches of triodia in the h which the river continued to run, and distant ranges were observed both to the north and south Towards sundoe surprised a large party of natives encamped in a dry channel of the river, and approached so near before ere discovered that we had separated a young child from the rest of the party, which was observed by the mother, who remained while the rest of the natives ed warrior returned to her aid, with his spear shi+pped, and ca attitude to recover the child, who stood by us with a look of thewe took no notice of his threats, he thren his weapon, and, walking up to the boy, caught him up in his arms and bore him off, with a look of triumph, to his companions No attempt was made to carry away their supper, which was ready prepared in a nurass-seed cakes, and a beverageundisturbed, we pushed on for anotherto their evening repast Carees 25 minutes 15 seconds

ATTEMPT TO SPEAR HORSES

22nd Septe Sunday, we only moved a mile lower down the river to a fine reach of water, on the banks of which was a rich sward of green grass for our horses Shortly after we had made ourselves comfortable for the day ere startled by six of the horses cohteen ar to their arms in a moment, which caused the intruders to fall back I tried to make the hunted; but as they would not go away, and they had a strong party concealed in the brushwood, I fired at a tree to show them the use of our arms The moment they heard the report of the rifle and saw the splinters fly, they took to their heels and did not again trouble us We afterwards found a spear sticking in the ground in the track of the horses, having evidently be throhile in pursuit Caitude 119 degrees 21 minutes

23rd September

The river soon passed round the southern foot of a range of hills of 400 or 500 feet elevation, the country to the south again becorass; at tenfrom the south-east, with a broad, deep, and well-defined channel, in which were many fine pools of water Below the confluence of the rivers the DeGrey widened out considerably, turning rather more to the northward, and seven rees 16 rees 5diverted to the northward by a rugged range of volcanic hills; its course being now direct for Breaker Inlet, which was distant about eighteen miles Camp 89

MAGNETIC ROCKS RENDER THE COMPass USELESS

24th September

As it was very is before proceeding any further, the country having for some days past been too flat to afford ulation I to-day started with Messrs Harding and Brown to ascend the ranges that lie to the west of the river A scraht us to the highest point, which was found to be not more than 500 feet above the sea; our journey, however, turned out to be fruitless, the netic attraction of the volcanic rocks of which the hills are coreat as to reverse the needle, which varied so much that I could not even les, and I had o these hills, but we did not succeed in shooting any; they appear to be similar to those seen on the plains near the Sherlock The viee had of the country was very extensive To the south is a vast gently-undulating plain, only occasionally interrupted by detached granite and sandstone peaks; while narrow green lines of trees intersecting the plain in various directions indicate the watercourses coes, and wander in wide sandy channels towards the sea; the course of the Strelley being easily distinguished for many miles To the north the eye could trace the broad sandy bed of the DeGrey, trending towards Breaker Inlet, the position of which was only distinguishable by the roves that line it, and the whole of the extreht down by the river To the east and west of this is a wide expanse of alluvial flats, covered in rass, the sa relieved by detached patches of open park-like forest of flooded-gu to the camp by noon, the re up the arrears ofa supply of fish and ducks, which here were found to be very plentiful

25th Septe down the DeGrey through the flats seen yesterday At eight miles the river divided into two channels of nearly equal width, the eastern one being followed to latitude 20 degrees 5very heavy, on account of the numerous rat-holes that completely undermine the banks of the river for more than a quarter of a mile back on either side For the last few miles the water in the river was decidedly brackish, and at our camp was evidently influenced by the tides; we, however, procured so a well in a sandbank in the dry portion of the channel, which here was about 300 yards wide Camp 90

SUDDEN RISE OF TIDE

26th Septe we found the water in the well quite salt, in consequence of the tide having risen during the night; and as our horses required water, it was found desirable to fall back upon some of the fresh pools to form a camp, while a day or two could be devoted to the exa tract of country We accordingly crossed the channel and proceeded ard for nearly three miles, e caain severalsome 8000 or 9000 acres of alluvial flat soil, covered with a quantity of iven the name of Ripon Island The western channel was found to be over 300 yards wide, and to contain several fine reaches of open water, so with ducks and a great variety of water-fowl Having selected a suitable spot for a ca to examine the country towards the inlet At a little more than two miles we crossed the river between two pools of salt water, subject to the influence of the tides, and proceeded northward over an open grassy flat for two ave place to saradually thickened to dense roves, cut up by deepfurther in that direction Here we observed several reether by the natives, but for what purpose we could not ascertain, unless to escape upon froround, we made a detourthe bank of the river close to the head of the inlet The tide being at the ebb, I was able to walk over the s to Points Larrey and Poissonier, and observe the character of the entrance, from which I formed the opinion that the breakers seen by Captain Stokes when surveying this portion of the coast, and which deterred hiout of the DeGrey, possibly backed up by freshes from the interior which would, from a river of this size, occasion a considerable commotion where the tide amounts to twenty feet; at any rate, I could not observe any rocks, and there appeared to be a channel with at least five or six feet of water in it at low tide For the first mile the river has a breadth of from 400 to 800 yards, and would admit with the tide vessels of twelve or fourteen feet draft of water with perfect safety up as far as Ripon Island, where they could lie completely sheltered in all weathers quite close to the shore, which here has steep banks twenty to thirty feet high; they would however, be left aground at loater, as we did not observe any pools in this part of the river I had only just ti of the inco to the horses, which were nearly a h I ran part of the way, the mud creeks filled up so rapidly, there was so to take up a roost on the top of the roves until the tide fell; I had time, however, to observe that the head of the tide carried with it thousands of fish of great variety, ast theth, in for-fish; it is a with the speed of a lizard, and when frightened can jump five or six feet at a bound; I did not, however, succeed in capturing one for a speciht-cri fro flood, on which was borne a great number of sea-foho, it was evident, ca our horses, that had stood for the last two hours without touching a rass around them for want of water, we returned to the ca the deep reaches of water that encompass the north-west side of Ripon Island

SCARCITY OF WATER NEAR THE WEST

27th September

Accoain started to explore the plains eastwards towards Mount Blaze For severalthe island the country continued of the same fertile character as that passed over yesterday, and is at times subject to inundation from the river; but as we receded frohter and the grass thinner, with patches of triodia and sarassy forest, extending for so water, and the day was calm and sultry, we turned to the northward in the hope that water ht be procurable under the low sand-hills that line this portion of the coast In this ere, however, disappointed, as the fall of the country terroves and salt-water creeks, bethich and the sea is a narrow ridge of low sand-hills Ast them we observed many tracks of natives; but did not discover any water The sea here is apparently very shallow for many miles off shore,left dry at loater Resting the horses for two hours, we returned to ca for several miles over a plain of rich black rass, the native fires having swept off the dry grass a feeeks previously; and although there had been no rain since, the heavy dews that fell during the night in these latitudes had been sufficient to produce a rapid growth

28th September

As I expected to meet with some difficulties for want of water between this and the Yule River, I thought it best to give the horses the benefit of a little rest before resu aht onthe heavy country of the interior While here we obtained several additions to our sst the covered by a ree-yellow, rese back fro theed into the sand after food; they had also a re forward froht when attacked by birds of prey A very handso about the size, and in plue like a pelican; the head and neck of a deep rich purple, and for and slender; it flies extended to its greatest length, s seven feet two inches; its weight being only 11 pounds

A white heron, with bird-of-paradise feathers on its back, was occasionally seen, but only one specimen procured