westward of south with the view of reaching the river. In a few miles
we crossed a large watercourse at present dry but with extensive
flood-marks and heaps of mussel-shells on its banks. This creek I named
Porteous Creek. A few miles further in the same direction we crossed a
small watercourse which apparently joins Porteous Creek. The banks are
wooded with myall. Behind these belts of myall the country rises in
gentle undulations, the soil is rich, almost without trees, and from the
appearance of the grass it was evident there had been no rain for a long
time. In the afternoon we went north-westerly and by that course reached
the river; then after following it down for a short distance we encamped.
The appearance of the grass we saw in the afternoon was fresher than that
we had seen earlier in the day; and near the river, where the low ground
had been flooded, the herbage was quite green. Shortly after we encamped
a middle-aged blackfellow, two youths, and two little boys paid us a
visit; they were very friendly but we did not get any information from
them. From last camp we came here on the following courses: 9.20
south-west for two and a half miles; 10 south-west by west for one and
three-quarter miles to Porteous Creek; 10.50 west-south-west for two and
a quarter miles to a small creek; 11.30 west for one and three-quarter
miles; 11.40 north for half a mile; 12.43 south-west for one and
three-quarter miles; 2.23 west for five miles; 2.43 north-west for one
mile; 3.23 west-north-west for two miles; 4.23 south-west for two and a
half miles. Distance twenty-one miles.

April 6.

As this was Sunday and we did not think the blacks numerous or dangerous
in the neighbourhood we rested ourselves and horses. The elderly
blackfellow and one of the others we had seen yesterday paid us a visit,
and in the course of the day he brought the others of his party and a man
about his own age whom we had not seen before. He made me understand that
his elderly friend wanted to see a gun so I gratified his curiosity. The
boys did not run away as they had done when they saw me fire a shot on a
previous occasion. The blacks examined with great curiosity our equipment
and accepted greedily everything we gave them but did not steal anything.
Mr. Bourne gave our newest acquaintance a shirt which pleased him very
much. They relished some food he gave them and said "Thank you sir" upon
Jackey making them understand it was proper to say so. Th