evening. By the assistance of Lieutenant Gascoyne and some of his men,
with two boats, we pulled the horses across the river. In the evening, as
soon as Messrs. Campbell and Wilson had hurriedly finished a copy for
Captain Norman of the notes I had made in my memorandum-book when on the
expedition to the south-west, the Firefly hulk was abandoned. Those of my
party I could not take overland accompanied Lieutenant Gascoyne, Captain
Norman having previously agreed to take them to their respective
destinations, namely: my late assistant commander, H.N. Campbell, to
Hobson's Bay, Victoria; Mr. Allison, and the aboriginal trooper, Charlie,
to Brisbane. Mr. Bourne and I accompanied them in Lieutenant Gascoyne's
boat down the river to our camp, where we bade farewell.

February 9.

Today we were busily employed preparing for our expedition.

February 10.

As there were mangrove mudflats in the neighbourhood of our camp the
mosquitoes were particularly troublesome; we hurriedly therefore made
preparations for leaving it. When we had packed up as many things as the
horses could conveniently carry the blacks paid us a visit, and we gave
them the remainder. 5.10 p.m. we started and came five and a quarter
miles upon well-grassed plains, and encamped near a fine waterhole. The
water was slightly brackish, but not so much so as to render it
undrinkable. The plains we crossed were slightly wooded. We came on the
following courses: 5.20 p.m. half a mile south-east; 5.35 p.m.
three-quarters of a mile east; 6 p.m. one mile east-south-east; 8 p.m.
three miles south. Distance five and a quarter miles.