to follow Mr. Walker's tracks to the Flinders River where he reported he
had left the tracks of Burke's party. After tracing Mr. Walker's tracks
for four days with considerable difficulty we reached plains near the
Leichhardt River where so much rain had fallen on the rich soft soil that
it was impossible to trace them further.

From the Leichhardt River we travelled over well-watered country to the
Flinders River; then travelled up that river, through fine rich pastoral
country, to about latitude 20 degrees 40 minutes; from there we reached
Bowen Downs in a few miles. The creeks and the river that water that
country I knew previously to a certain point down the river, but beyond
this point I did not know where the river flowed. On this expedition I
followed it down to near its junction with the Barcoo River (formerly
known as the Victoria and as the Cooper) and discovered that it was the
Thomson River. After leaving the well-watered country of Bowen Downs,
with the assistance of one of the blacks of that locality, we came
through a fine rich country to the Barcoo River; then without following
the river further, or searching ahead for water, we went across to the
Warrego River without the horses being at any time longer than a day and
part of a night without water. The country is therefore, I have no doubt,
on the whole well watered.

From the Warrego River we tried to go to the south-eastward, but, from
not knowing the country, we had to return, owing to the want of water. On
this occasion, although the weather was cold, the horses suffered very
much. We travelled almost incessantly, day and night. In going from and
returning to water the horses were without it for seventy-two hours. In
returning we found water in a creek in which we had found no water at the
place we crossed it in our outward route. If I had had plenty of rations
I probably would have searched with one of the aborigines for water