and destitute of grass, and that beyond the ranges in sight there were no
hills. They said further, on being asked if they knew of any country to
the westward without grass, that they had not seen or heard of any
country of that description in such direction. We started this morning at
8.45 and at 3.43 p.m., having travelled sixteen miles along the left bank
of the river, we camped. The country we saw during the forenoon was of an
undulating character and the soil rich, with myall and western-wood
acacia. The grass was good, but from the absence of rain not so fresh
looking as higher up the river. Our path in the afternoon lay near the
river over low ground, wooded with box, having an undergrowth of saltbush
and polygonum. To the eastward there was fine undulating open country.
Somewhere above here I think it is probable that the river is joined by a
larger stream from the westward as it is now quite unfordable and about
sixty feet in width. We came in the following courses from last camp:
9.45 south-south-east for three miles; 11 south for three and a half
miles; 1.20 south-south-west for three miles; 3.15 south-west for five
and three-quarter miles; 3.43 south-south-west for three-quarters of a
mile.

April 4.

We left Camp 42 at 8.35 a.m. and travelled in the back country from the
river. I steered in the forenoon about two points off what I considered
was the probable course of the river, and intended returning to it in the
afternoon; unfortunately however I left the main party in the middle of
the day and omitted to tell Mr. Bourne to change the course if necessary
to reach the river. When I overtook the party I altered the course and at
3.20 p.m. reached a creek that probably drains a great deal of back
country. As there was water in its channel we encamped. The creek I named
Stark Creek. Before we reached here we crossed two other creeks; the