Part 21 (2/2)

12th

Continued onwards about North-East for ten miles, over saltbush flats ater in clay-pans in places, to the north part of a range, froot a view of Mount Connor, which rose abruptly out of the ocean of scrub Rounding thewhich we cah to reach, and no feed within a mile and a half of it There was plenty of water in the hole, which is about six feet deep A white gum-tree close to the pool is marked GOS, 19, and I90th cah place, and no feed near, I will tree Gully Weather dark and cloudy

13th (Sunday)

Continued on towards Figtree Gully, having to go a long way north in order to get round and through the ranges Most beautifully-grassed country all the way; by far the best-grassed country we have seen forabout nineteen ranite rocks, and caaroo, which was very acceptable

14th

About 2 o'clock this afternoon we collected the horses, and travelled on to Figtree Gully about four ranite rocks We got enough at Figtree Gully to satisfy thereat supply There is a sht, so as to have sufficient for the, as the water does not co A fe hills, and generally level country--apparently thickly wooded with a and acacia

THE MARRYATT RIVER

15th

Got an early start, and steering about east for sixabout a mile and a half, e steered more to the east, until we struck the head of the Marryatt, which we followed down North-East and east, until we reached the salt native wellout the well, which was very brackish; yet the horses drank it There was a very poor supply of water, and we kept bailing it out into the druallons We travelled about thirty miles to-day; our horses were very thirsty, the weather oppressive I found a sallons in it, about one

16th

Went over to the rock hole and gave our horses the water--about one bucket apiece, after which we struck South-East to the river, and found two rock holes with sufficient water in them to satisfy all the horses

Continued on and reached Mr Gosse's ca” Found it quite dry; but after going a few hundred yards we found a nice clay-pan ater in it, and cao, and it has not all dried up yet If it was not for the rain-water we should havedown this river, as all the old native wells dug in the sand are dry

17th

Followed down the Marryatt, and at six miles passed a native well, which was quite dry We continued on, and at about eight miles found a number of rock water-holes, all nearly full of water, about a quarter of a mile south of the river, and camped Shod some of the horses Took a set of lunar observations

18th

Two of the horses raht, and delayed our start

At eight o'clock we got under way, and followed along the river The day was excessively hot, and we had to walk in turns At two o'clock crossed the gue clay-pan shown a short distance beyond it; hundreds of natives' tracks seen all along Towards evening we found a rock water-hole with about two gallons in it, which refreshed us, as ere all very thirsty Here ere obliged to abandon police-horse Cha co ti loose without any load We pushed on, and I sent Windich to look for water We travelled until eight o'clock, e caht without water Shortly after we had ca found so to eat I decided to return to the clay-pans, and therefore packed up three of the horses, and let the others go loose, leaving the packs until our return Reached the water by ht, and the horses finished it all, and were not half satisfied I thought there was more, or would not have come back for it We hobbled them out, and had a few hours' rest

A PAINFUL MARCH

19th

Early thiswe searched the flat for water, and found a rock water-hole with about fifty gallons in it, but could not find any allons, and pushed on towards ”Water near Table-Land” shown on Mr Gosse's map, about twenty-onewasvery slowly, but did not give in Towards noon a hot wind began to bloards still we pressed, and crossed the large creek coa about two miles from the water I told the party ere now close, and showed them the low table-land just ahead Before we reached it we found a clay-hole ater, and gave the horses a good drink, after which we moved on a ot plenty of water by digging in the sandy bed of the river I was very glad to reach here, for the horses were getting very weary, and Sweeney was also done up, and looked very ill and swollen up about the head The walking wassoft, the sun was overpowering, and ain, and to- Sunday ill rest

20th (Sunday)

Rested to-day Windich shot an e 97th carees 44 rees 47 a about South-East for about twenty a and acacia, to Mr Gosse's bivouac of Dece We therefore pushed on and found a native well, fro out about five feet, we procured abundance of water Sweeney still very unwell, unable to walk; others walking in turns Distance twenty-five miles

22nd

The horses raht o'clock before we got started We followed down the Alberga over stony plains, poorly grassed and thickly wooded, for about eighteenin the sand; there was only a very poor supply, and it took us a good while to water all the horses The river bed is more than a quarter of a mile wide and very shallow, and spreads out over the plains forthe horses delayed us a little thisinto the well We followed down the river, and after travelling about nineafter us He was quite friendly, but could not speak any English; he ca with us, and shortly afterwards we found a native ith sufficient water by digging, then camped, as our horses were very weak, and required a rest We finished all our tea and sugar to-day, and have now only flour left; ill therefore have bread and water for the next week, until we reach the Peake The native ate heartily of daiven to him, and remained all day, and slept at our camp Distance ten miles

NEAR THE END OF THE JOURNEY

24th

Travelled down river, the native still acco us, and at about six irl They were quite friendly, and showed us water; and the woirl came with us to Appatinna, Mr Gosse's depot 21, where we caht bank of river Windich shot three e to the water, and we all had plenty of them to eat The natives were very pleased, and went back and brought up the old man and another woman and child There were now six with us They have seen the telegraph line, as can be seen by signs they lish

25th

The horses raot under way There was no feed at all for thea for about fifteen enerally, and carass for our horses About half an hour after we left Appatinna this h it only lasted about a quarter of an hour, it literally flooded the whole country, y It was the heaviest thunderstor water now all the way to the telegraph line, which is not more than forty miles from here The natives stayed at Appatinna, as they had too much emu to leave