ssed by
rocky bars, and filled by immense boulders. The grass was very
scarce, the blacks having burnt it all along the river. There were
patches where it never grows at all, presenting the appearance of an
earthern floor. They encamped at the junction of Canal Creek, under
the shade of some magnificent Leichhardt trees ('Nauclea
Leichhardtii') that grow there, without other water than what they
dug for in the sandy bed, and reached at a depth of two feet. On the
opposite side and about a mile from the junction there is a swamp,
splendidly grassed, which looked like a green barley field, but the
water was too salt for the horses to drink, an unusual thing in
granite country. The timber of the ridges was cheifly stunted hollow
iron-bark, that of the river, bloodwood, and the apple-gum, described
as so good for forging purposes; there was a total absence of those
tall well-grown gums, by which the course of a stream may usually be
traced from a distance. So little was the river defined by the
timber that it could not be distinguished at a half-a-mile away.

'October' 15.--The party moved to-day as far as the swamp mentioned
on the 19th September. It received the name of "Cawana Swamp," and
is described as the best and prettiest camping place they had yet
seen. It is surrounded by the high stoney range called Jorgensen's
Range on two sides, north and east, whilst on the south and east it
is hemmed in by a stretch of cellular basalt, which makes it almost
unapproachable. The only easy approach is by the river from the
westward. It is six miles round, and so shallow that the cattle fed
nearly a mile towards the middle. The party travelled out of the
direct course to avoid the stones, keeping the narrow flats occuring
between the river and ridges, which averaged about 200 yards in
width; when intercepted by the ridges running into the river, they
followed down its bed which is more clearly defined by oak
('Casuarinae') and Leichhardt trees than up the stream. The improved
travelling allowed them to make the stage of 9 miles in less than
four hours, and turn out early. Several large flocks of galaas
('Cacatua Rosea,') were seen, and Alexander Jardine shot a wallaby.
Before starting, Barney, one of the black-boys had to be corrected by
the Leader for misconduct, which had the effect of restoring
discipline. On reaching Cawana Swamp, the fires of the natives were
found quite fresh, from which it would seem that th