e banks of the river to us. One of them was up a hollow tree
cutting out a honeycomb or a possum. Fisherman had a conversation with
him, but as he said the blackfellow did not know where there were any
stations I do not think he understood him. There were barking curs with
them, which made us suppose we were probably not far from stations.
Fisherman and I came here today in the following courses: 9.40
west-south-west for three-quarters of a mile; 10.30 north-north-west for
three and a quarter miles; 10.40 west-north-west for half a mile; 11.45
south-south-east for three miles to the junction of the creek with the
river; 12.22 south-south-west for one and three-quarter miles; 1.28
south-west for three miles; 2.15 east-south-east for two miles; 3.40
south-west by south for four miles; 4.40 south for three miles. Distance
twenty-one and a quarter miles.

May 17.

We left camp yesterday morning at 9. We followed the river down all day
till it became dark, in the hope of reaching a station. We were
disappointed in our expectations and did not see many tracks of cattle.
Along our path on the east side of the river, about three-quarters of a
mile below camp, we observed a tree marked A. After passing between a
hill and the river, about six and a quarter miles below camp, we crossed
extensive flats and a low sandhill. The country was thinly wooded in some
places and scrubby at others. The land, although not very rich, had the
best grasses, and cotton, and saltbush upon it; the sandhill was wooded
with cypress pine and other trees. When we had come about eleven and a
quarter miles Mr. Bourne discovered that he had left his pistol at the
last camp. Jackey returned with him to get it. Before they left I advised
them to take rations as there was little probability of their overtaking
us; but they went off without them as quickly as they could, with the
intention of joining us again some time before morning; but they did not
succeed in doing so, nor have they made their appearance yet. We came
here in about the following courses: 9.20 south-south-west for
three-quarters of a mile to A-tree; 10.8 east-south-east for two and a
quarter miles; 11.20 south and by west for three and a quarter miles to
opposite a hill; 12.50 south and by east for three and a quarter miles;
3.50 south and by west for seven and a quarter miles; 3.55 south-west and
by south for one mile; 4.35 west for one and a half miles; 4.55
south-east for a quarter of a