. The marked
trees are on the left bank. We are glad to find that one of our guides,
who was named Wittin, had determined to accompany us. He brought an
intelligent-looking white-headed old man to the camp, and a fine tall
well-proportioned young gin with a little boy, the two latter remaining
some distance from the camp. Wittin showed his friend our guns,
water-bottles, and other things as if he were quite familiar with them.
Before starting we went to see the gin and the little boy. She was very
timid and ran away when we approached near to her. We left camp at 9.30
and followed down the left bank of the river about nine and a half miles
and encamped. The country we saw today has undulating features with rich
soil, dry grass, and box-tree. Near the river just above here there are
sandstone ridges with western-wood acacia and Port Curtis sandalwood.
Wittin told Jemmy that he had seen to the eastward of here about ten
moons ago a party of travellers consisting of four white men and four
black men. He got a shirt from them, but they did not give him any bread.
Wittin wanted to return because of the unpleasant effects of the riding,
which was new to him. We came here on the following courses: 11.30
south-west for five and a quarter miles; 1.15 south-south-west for one
and a half miles; 1.45 south-west for one mile; 2.24 south-south-west for
one and three-quarter miles. Distance nine and a half miles.

April 14.

We started down the river this morning at 9.50. Our last camp (47) is
situated on the left bank of the river. When we had proceeded a short
distance we observed a range right ahead of us. Wittin called it Trimpie
Yawbah. Afterwards we observed other hills to the westward of Trimpie
Camp, the highest of which I called Mount Pring. On the first unwooded
plain we came upon after leaving camp we saw in the distance objects
which appeared to be cattle, but upon getting nearer to them we found
them to be emus. When we had travelled about fourteen miles down the left
bank of the river we encamped. The ground we crossed was more level than
the land higher up the river, and the grasses at places were good; but
otherwise there was no change in the character of the country. At a spot
about five miles south half east from the last camp I made the meridian
altitude (A.H.) 112 degrees 50 minutes; latitude 24 degrees 5 minutes 7
seconds. Anxious to have the guidance of Wittin to Cooper's Creek I made
free with the name of Sir G