o be the junction of the creek. The course
of the river was then from south-west to north-east, so we followed it up
for three miles, where we unpacked the horses, as we wanted to water
them. The approach to the river was boggy. We stopped here and had some
dinner. On the bank marked a tree (broad arrow before L). In the
afternoon we travelled from 4.4 to 6.13, in the following courses:
At 4.20 half a mile south-west by south where we passed a fine waterhole.
At 4.40, one mile south-west by south.
At 5.5 one mile south-west.
At 5.30 one mile south-west by south.
At 5.55 one mile south-west to where we passed a broad reach of water.
At 6.10, three-quarters of a mile south-east to a point above junction of
a dry watercourse where we made our Number 4 camp. The edges of the plain
which we saw today in following up the river are of the richest soil, and
only sufficiently timbered to afford firewood for a pastoral population.
The grasses are of the best description. This is the character of the
whole of the country we have seen since we left our first camp. There is
no appearance on the country we have crossed of its having had rain for a
long time; but from the strong stream of water in the river I think there
must have been plenty of rain on the country higher up. I saw today, on
several low places, saltbush which the horses ate, of a kind I have often
seen in the western country from Rockhampton, but never before so near to
the coast. By following the river it has taken us nearly right on our
course towards Mount Stuart.
Wednesday November 20. Camp Number 4.
Situated on right bank of the Gregory River. Started at 8.13 a.m. and
steered south for about three miles, until 9.25; then I had to change our
course to south-south-east for about half a mile to where we tried to
cross the river, but could not find a suitable place for doing so.
Started again at 10.15 and reached at 11.15, by a south course, two and a
quarter miles to where we crossed a dry creek near its junction with the
river. We continued steering on the same course south for about one mile,
when we reached the bank of the river, and a further continuation of the
same course for one mile brought us to a place on the river where we
watered the horses. The watering-place was boggy but we could find no
better. Started again at 2.4 p.m., and at 3.30 made one and a half miles
south-south and by east; at 4 made one and a half miles in a south-east
direc
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