Part 44 (1/2)

Latitude by Vega 18 degrees 14 minutes 25 seconds

13th Septeh box-flats with broad-leafed radually becarevillia, terminalia, bloodwood, and triodia; the soil very poor, and in soravel At 20 pm altered the course to north, and at 550 ca west, which we followed down till 615, and camped without water

14th September (Sunday)

At 550 proceeded down the creek on a nearly west course, searching the channel in its winding course for water, but without success, till 100, e found a pool of good water fifty yards long and two feet deep, at which we encamped Some blacks had been ca The country on the creek is very poor, with patches of open uurass The soil sandstone, with ironstone gravel The native bee appears to be very nureat numbers of trees have been cut by the blacks to obtain the honey

Latitude by a Aquilae 17 degrees 59 minutes 26 seconds

LEVEL COUNTRY SCARCITY OF WATER

15th Septerees netic, over a very level country thinly wooded with box, bloodwood, revillia, and cotton-trees, also a snised as Leichhardt's little bread-tree, the fruit of which, when ripe, is mealy and acid, but made some of the party, who ate it, sick Several dry watercourses trending ere crossed, and at 25 pm camped at a sing the hole we obtained, though with difficulty, a sufficient supply of water for our horses On the flats near the creek the grass was good, but very dry

Latitude by a Aquilae 17 degrees 46 h our horses required a day's rest, none of our camps for sorass for a second night; we therefore continued a north 20 degrees east course at 625 am; at 730 am came to a creek which we followed east an hour and a half, when it was reduced to a s over much poor country with patches of melaleuca scrub, the country perfectly level; at 20 pm came to a sandy creek which we followed to the west till 65 prassy box flat; I then walked down the creek, and was fortunate in finding a pool of water half a mile distant, and as soon as the moon rose we drove the horses to the water and filled our saddle-bags Few parts of our journey have been through country so destitute of ani the Flinders River--no kangaroo or even their track; emu tracks very rare, and very few birds were at the waterholes Many of the sleeping-frames of the blacks have been observed, and thousands of deep impressions of their feet in the now dry and sun-baked clay show that during the rainy season the extremely level nature of the country causes it to be extensively inundated

17th Septe sufficient, we remained at this camp to refresh the horses, which had suffered rees 34 rees 50 minutes east

DRIED HORSE-FLESH

18th Septerees easta level country with frequent hollohich for a sandy creek with several channels, which we searched in vain for water; but found a fine lagoon about a quarter of a rassy flat, in which we encarassy box-flats; melaleuca scrubs less frequent As this camp appeared suitable for a halt of a few days, I decided on availing ourselves of the opportunity, and to kill one of the unserviceable horses and replenish our stock of meat and supply the party with fresh provisions Old Boco, who had not carried a pack since leaving the Albert, and whose wandering and kicking propensities had rendered him a troublesome animal, was therefore shot, skinned and quartered

Latitude by a Aquilae 17 degrees 21 rees 15 minutes east

19th Septe on ropes to dry by 100 a the party with an excellent dinner

20th Septeht had been cloudy, but theday, the weather being very hot with little wind Reduced the ration of flour to three-quarters of a pound per diem while fresh meat is abundant

21st September

Resumed our journey at 815 arees east a level plain grassy country thinly wooded with box, bloodwood, and terood quality, but very wet in the rainy season At 1130 ae creek or river with many sandy channels in which only a few small pools of water reh fine open grassy flats till 235 pm and camped in the bed of the river The banks of the river (which is probably the Gilbert of Leichhardt) are well grassed, and a dense line of u divided into many channels its size is difficult to ascertain Considerable quantities of mica are mixed with the soil on its banks, which indicates that it rises in country of priaroos, some wallabies, and pink and sulphur-crested white cockatoos were seen near the river