Part 32 (1/2)

At 630 am proceeded up the creek, and at 1230 pm camped at a shallow pool of rainwater on the flat, the channel of the creek being dry On the northern bank of the creek we passed a sreat number of duck and other water-fowl on it The afternoon was cloudy, with a fresh breeze frorees 15 minutes 26 seconds

12th February

Three of the horses having strayed some distance, we did not start till 70 arees east till 1145 am, e camped at a small pool of water in the bed of the creek, which was reduced to a srassy flats of the creek, after which we passed over a level sandy country producing nothing but triodia, stunted eucalypti, and acacia till we again approached the creek, where the grassy flat was nearly half a mile wide, but of inferior character

Latitude by b Tauri 18 degrees 9 minutes 44 seconds

13th February

At 650 a soenerally very poor and thinly wooded hite-gum and silver-leafed ironbark; at 1040 halted at a se; at 30 pranite hills, which rose abruptly 100 to 150 feet above the plain, and extended about five miles to the south and east; to the west the sandstone covered the granite and formed a level tableland or plain; to the north a valley trended to the west, on the northern side of which the hills appeared to be granitic Returning to the camp, examined a deep rocky ravine and found soht last for nearly another rees 11 minutes 20 seconds

PIGEONS AND SEA-GULLS

14th February

Leaving the carees east; crossing the granite ridge, we entered a level sandy country with much scrub, which was traversed till 840, e entered a wide grassy plain extending to the north-west, in which direction we steered till 210 pm, e halted at a small muddy puddle two inches deep and three yards wide Then rode on with Mr H Gregory to search for a larger supply of water, and found a shallow pool about a h this pool was not 100 yards long and six inches deep, a large flock of ducks, snipe, and seons of species new to us caeons keep in flocks of frorass on the open plains, as they never alight on trees They are so; the head is black, with a little white at the base of the beak and behind the eye; back pale brown; breast, blue; throat s hite tips to the feathers and a small patch of bronze; tail short, tip white; feet, dull red The evening and night were cloudy

WILD RICE

15th February

At 65 arew on the lower part of the grassy plain and indicated the course of the water in the wet season, and at 90 ca north-west Water was now abundant and forht bank of the creek at a pool a quarter of aand fifty yards wide This spot seee quantities of mussel-shells lay around their fires

The plain traversed this rassed; the soil a stiff clay loam; this plain extended three to six miles on each side of the track, and was bounded by a loooded country, which, in some parts, rose nearly 100 feet above the plain In the lower part of the plain we observed the salt-bush (atriplex) and a species of rice; but as it was only just in ear, we could not judge of the quality of the grain In the afternoon there was a fine breeze fro cloudy

Latitude by Canopus and Pollux 17 degrees 53 minutes 50 seconds

16th February

At 625 am resumed our journey down the creek, which turned first west and then south-west, and at 1220 pht bank of the creek wide grassy plains extended froe, but on the left bank the scrubby country came close to the creek

Latitude by a Orionis, Canopus and Pollux 17 degrees 59 minutes 40 seconds

17th February (Sunday)

As the water and grass were abundant on this camp, ere not compelled to move on in search of these requisites, and were enabled to observe it as a day of rest

18th February

Resue south-west course till 1110, and then south till 1225 pain carassy plains on the bank of the creek, without trees and well grassed; beyond the plains, at one to six eneral aspect of the whole was extreeese were seen on some of the pools in the creek

Latitude by Canopus 18 degrees 4 minutes 40 seconds

STURT'S CREEK

19th February