this route, as there was nothing for them to eat for nearly the whole
distance. The stage travelled was 26 1/2 miles.

'November' 13.--Maramie Creek was followed down for 25 miles: its
general course is west. At three miles from the start a small creek
runs in from the north-east. The Brothers had hoped that the
character of the country would improve as they went down, but were
disappointed. Nothing but the same waste of tea-tree and spinifex
could be seen on either side, the bank of the main creek alone
producing bloodwood, stringy-bark, acacia, and nonda. Though shallow
it was well watered, and increased rapidly in size as they proceeded.
The natives had poisoned all the fish in the different waterholes
with the bark of a small green acacia that grew along the banks, but
the party succeeded in getting a few muscles and maramies.

'November' 14.--Being satisfied that the cattle could not be
brought on by the course they had traversed, Frank Jardine determined
to leave Maramie Creek, and make for the large stream crossed on the
12th, so as to strike it below the junction of Cockburn Creek.
Turning due south the party passed a swamp at eight miles, and at
seventeen miles a lagoon, on which were blue lilies ('Nymphoea
gigantea.') A mile farther on they reached what they supposed to be
the Mitchell, which was afterwards ascertained to be the Staaten, of
the Dutch navigators, or one of its heads. At the point where they
struck it (about 18 miles below the junction of Cockburn Creek, it is
nearly a quarter-of-a-mile in width, sandy, with long waterholes. A
dense black tea-tree scrub occupies its south bank. It was here that
the party experienced the first decided show of hostility from the
natives. They had seen and passed a number at the lily lagoon
unmolested, but when arrived at the river whilst the leader was