a half miles; 5 south for one and a half miles; 6
south-east and by south for three-quarters of a mile. Distance
twenty-three and a half miles.
April 19 1862. Barcoo River, Camp 51.
We left Camp 50 at 8.35. It is situated on the left bank of Dunsmore
Creek at a place bearing north by west half west from Johnstone's Range.
The main party started direct for Cooper's River and Fisherman and I went
to Johnstone's Range which we reached in about four miles. We ascended
its cliff-topped summit and observed from it a long range of hills from
which we bore 99 1/2 degrees from one end, and 141 degrees from another
part. The part of the range we were on prevented me from seeing the other
end of Johnstone's Range. I made the meridian altitude of the sun 108
degrees 15 minutes. The latitude of that observation is 24 degrees 34
minutes west. To reach the river where Mr. Bourne had moved the
encampment, at a place a short distance above the junction of Archer
Creek, we had to hasten the last seven miles to get to it before dark. By
coming on a different course from our yesterday's one the road was not so
good, and the country was so thickly wooded at places with western-wood
acacia that riding fast was too dangerous to be agreeable. Mr. Bourne
observed several blacks today. They were very timid and ran away. We came
here in about the following courses from the last camp: 10.40 south and
by east half east four miles to Johnstone's Range; 12.30 east, 4.30 east,
eleven miles to the tracks; 6.0 east-south-east quarter south seven miles
to this encampment. Twenty-two miles.
April 20. Sunday. Barcoo River, Camp 51.
Today we rested ourselves and the horses. I made the meridian altitude of
the sun A.H. 107degrees 56 minutes. The latitude is by that observation
24 degrees 37 minutes 43 seconds.
April 21. Monday. Barcoo River, Camp 52.
We left Camp 51 at 10.3. It is situated on the left bank of the river
bearing east half south from a small hill about two miles distant. We
followed the river up on its western bank for about fifteen and a half
miles and encamped at 5.10 p.m. We came first in a north-north-east
direction and afterwards for a few miles in a more easterly one. Our path
along the first part was between ridges thickly wooded with western-wood
acacia and low flat country intersected by boggy branches of the river.
In the latter part our path was not confined. On the flats where the old
grass had been burned good grass had
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