Part 47 (1/2)

1st November

The horses had strayed so far into the scrub in search of grass that it was 940 am before they were collected and saddled; we then steered south-west through the scrub, which gradually beca froradually turned to south and south-south-west; two creeks joined the river froalow scrub ca a narrow flat open; the west side of the river we could see but little, except that it consisted of wooded ridges and scrub to the east at a distance of one to three ht existed, and from their flat tops and red cliffs near the summit, evidently consisted of sandstone in horizontal strata; sandstone was also exposed near the river with a dip of 30 degrees to the south; at 330 carassy plain extended about a rass; water was abundant, as the river had been running during the past week and had filled the hollows in the channel, though it had now ceased to flow; the bed is very irregular, and consists of three to six channels, which separate and rejoin so as to for free froe flooded-gureeable shade

Latitude by a Pegasi 21 degrees 4 minutes 43 seconds

2nd Nove abundant, we enjoyed a day's rest Several cockatoos were shot; they are similar in colour and form to the sulphur-crested cockatoos of the Victoria and Gulf of Carpentaria, but er in size

IRON TOMAHAWKS USED BY THE NATIVES

3rd Nove the camp at 635 am, followed the river in a southerly direction till 110, when it turned to the east, and we ascended a sandstone hill; fro country To the east several distant peaks and hills were visible, the netic; to the south a low range about thirty e peaked hill, bounded the horizon, the intervening country being very level and apparently covered with scrub To the west the valley was bounded by low hills of sandstone

Although ironbark ridges are frequent, the general character of the country is very scrubby, and this combined with the scarcity of water will render it unsuitable for pastoral purposes Descending the hill, steered south-east, crossed a fine basaltic plain, and entered open brigalow scrub, and at 20 pain came on the Suttor River, which had corassy flats with uncertain li waterholes, which were eneral course from south-south-west; at 330 camped at a fine waterhole Two miles below the camp we surprised so the river consists of open flats, thinly grassed and interspersed with patches of saltbush (atriplex), and openly tialow prevail over the rest of the country The marks of iron to honey or opposums out of the hollow branches of the trees

Latitude by a Pegasi 21 degrees 22 rees 50south-west from 740 am till 85, the river turned suddenly to the south-east, and, changing our course to 170 degrees, traversed an open brigalow scrub with several shallow channels winding through it in an irregular ain ca, and very muddy from the effect of recent rains in the upper part of its course The banks are very low, and the country so level that the floods must frequently extend more than a mile back into the scrub, which couer channels, and sometimes box flats extend into the scrub We now followed the river south-south-west, through a level country covered with dense brigalow scrub, passing only one low rocky hill, on the left bank, at 1120 At 215 ped to the eastward, and the course was altered to south The country was more open, and at 30 encarassy box flat

Latitude by a Pegasi 21 degrees 38south-east for one mile, reached theto the right bank at 720 aalow scrub forced us south-west, and again came to the river at 1030 A south course was then followed till 10 pm; then south-east till 40; then followed the river south-south-east till 450, and carassy flat The whole of the country is very level and covered with dense brigalow scrubs, except one sandy plain, on which triodia wasnow passed the latitude of Sir T Mitchell's last camp on the Belyando, and thus connected his route with that of Dr Leichhardt, I considered it unnecessary to follow the river further, and decided on taking a south-easterly route to Peak Downs and the Mackenzie River

Latitude by a Pegasi 21 degrees 57 minutes 45 seconds

6th November

At 630 aalow scrubs till 90; then entered a box and Moreton-Bay ash flat, in which was a sully with rainwater, near which a camp of blacks was observed; but they ran into the scrub on our approach At 930 changed the course to south-east towards some rocky hills, which were reached at 110 Froes to the ard; but the intervening twenty to forty miles was very flat The route was now over scrubby sandstone hills for three hours, and then descended into an open flat, with box, bloodwood, and Moreton-Bay ash, triodia, and grass growing on a sandy loam At 330 p the sandstone range we had a view of soh peaks twenty to thirty miles distant to the south-south-east; but to the east the country was quite level

Latitude by a Pegasi 22 degrees 13 minutes 10 seconds

7th Nove south-east; the whole country appeared perfectly level with brigalow scrub and patches of open sandy country, producing triodia and a little grass; the timber Moreton-Bay ash and box

Towards noon the country was more open At 130 pe of a scrub About a mile further on Melville's horse fell, and so bruised his rider that we had to return to the water and carees 23 minutes 36 seconds

HORSE-SKIN SOUP

8th Nove exhausted, the party had to move on in search of a further supply where we could halt until Melville had recovered fro south-east for one hour, carassy flats and a strea that there had been heavy rain in the ranges to the south Having camped, we shot the filly, which was now elevenit up to dry in the sun during the day and over a charcoal fire at night The skin was cleared of hair, and was thus elatine, from which excellent soup was subsequently prepared The saddlery had becoh the scrubs, and the party was fully e the horses,the fallen timber

9th November (Sunday)

Melville so well