another dry small creek from the north. At 1.14 we made half a mile west
by south to rapids with a fall of at least three feet, where the river
was still closely confined on both sides. At 1.45 made a mile south-west
to a small basaltic hill, opposite what appeared the junction of a larger
river from the west-south-west. As the crossing-place was bad in this
river the troopers and I crossed to look at the large watercourse; it was
running and so full of pandanus that we could not see it well. It might
be only another channel of the Gregory River. It has the broadest bed but
has not so much running water in it. The basaltic hill rose too close to
the river to let us pass so we had to go round it, and as soon as we had
done so we reached the junction of a creek from the north. The country
about here consists of stony barren hills and ridges, with the exception
of a few spots which have rich soil and excellent grass. There is slate
in abundance, and the country is like that of some goldfields I have
seen. At 3.40 made half a mile north-west up the creek, which has a slaty
bed, where we crossed. A little higher it has reeds and water in it. I
have called it the Stawell Creek. At 3.48 quarter of a mile south-west to
the river; we observed in crossing this point patches of triodia, or more
commonly called spinifex. The country near this part of the river is
wooded with stunted bloodwood. At 4.30 made one mile south-west up the
river. At 4.43 half a mile south-south-west to a point between river and
small basaltic hill with two little cones on the top of it, like the
cairns Mr. Stuart draws of those he made on Central Mount Stuart.
(Direction omitted, probably about south.) At 4.10 one mile and a quarter
to where we made our Number 11 camp, at which place I observed some
first-rate grasses, and for the first time on the Gregory River a few
tufts of kangaroo-grass. The country we have seen today is fine fattening
healthy sheep country; but it will not carry much stock as the grass is
thin. The horse drowned had been an unfortunate brute from the time of
our leaving Brisbane. On board ship he was nearly kicked to death by