ver a thickly-grassed slightly-wooded
plain with flood-marks on it; at 6.2 made one mile and three-quarters
north over a similar country, slightly timbered with flooded box; at 6.13
made half a mile north-north-west; at 6.35 made three-quarters of a mile
north-west by north over similar country; then crossed during a
thunderstorm to left side of eastern channel of watercourse; at 7.15 made
one mile and a half west by north to the main channel of Beames Brook
which has a fine stream of water only a few feet below the level plains
on each side of it. The water was muddy from the recent shower and in
consequence anything but pleasant. Mosquitoes were very numerous and
allowed some of us but little sleep.

Thursday January 16. Camp Number 37. Situated on the right bank of Beames
Brook.

We left here at 7.16; at 8.30 made three-quarters of a mile north-east by
north to where we crossed to right side of an eastern channel of a
watercourse; at 10.5 made four miles and a half north-north-east over
level rich country, slightly timbered with stunted box and a small tree
like the Queensland sandalwood, called by Mr. Walker the gutta-percha
tree, and reached extensive plains; at 11.15 made three miles and a
quarter north-north-east over fine rich plains with the tall trees of the
banks of a watercourse in sight to the eastward: at 11.32 made
three-quarters of a mile north-north-west where we stopped on the plain,
and Mr. Allison made the following observation of the sun: altitude
86.45, latitude 18 degrees 0 minutes 50 seconds; started again at 12.58;
at 1.10 made one mile and a half north over fine slightly timbered downs,
but from the want of rain the grass on them was rather brown, to where we
crossed to the right bank of a watercourse (Barkly River) with high
flood-marks, but at present without water; at 1.20 made half a mile north
where we recrossed it; at 2.25 made three miles north to where we crossed
again to left side without finding water; we passed at this place a
number of blacks perched in the trees; at 3 made a quarter of a mile
north to where we stopped as we could not proceed in consequence of a
heavy thunderstorm and the bogginess of the ground; at 4.35 made quarter
of a mile south, then three-quarters of a mile northerly to where we
formed our thirty-eighth camp on the left of the main watercourse (Barkly
River).

Friday January 17. Camp Number 38. Situated on the left bank of Barkly
River.

The morning was w