Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia - Thomas Mitchell
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17TH OCTOBER.--The thermometer stood as low as the freezing point this
morning, and the day was cooled by a wind from the N. E. In crossing
Possession Creck, we saw nothing of the formerly belligerent natives.
From Camp XXXIII, I took a direct course to Camp XXXII, where we arrived
early. No water remaining in the adjacent ponds, I followed the dry
channel down to its junction, and found the Maranoa full of water; this
point being three quarters of a mile from our camp. We had this day
passed over a fine open forest country, in which were also groves of the
ACACIA PENDULA. The vegetation, in general, seemed drooping, from the
want of rain; but the whole was available for grazing purposes. We saw,
this day, plants of PYCNOSORUS GLOBOSUS, in the dry forest land; and the
purple-flowered RUELLIA AUSTRALIS. The ACACIA SPECTABILIS formed a
spreading bush, about eight feet high. The HOVEA LEIOCARPA, and
CONVOLVULUS ERUBESCENS, were also found; with a new MYRIOGYNE[*], and a
small shrub, three feet high, with narrow, blunt, glaueous leaves,
tasting like rum. A small fruit, with the fragrance of an orange, proved
to be a new species of TRIPHASIA.[**]
[* M. RACEMOSA (Hook. MS.) radice perenni fusiformi superne multicipiti,
caulibus decumbentibus, foliis lineari-cuneatis grosse serratis
punctatis, capitulis in racemis subnudis terminalibus.--Very different
from any described MYRIOGYNE, in the terminal racemed capitula.]
[** T. GLAUCA (Lindl. MS.); spinosa, foliis coriaceis integerrimis
crenatisque linearibus glaucis obtusis retusisque, floribus trimeris
dodecandris 2-3nis brevi-pedicellatis.]
It is much to be regretted, that the specimens gathered here of the
brigalow, should have been so imperfect that they could not be described.
If an Acacia, Mr. Bentham says, it is different from any he knows.
The vicinity of the river here affords security for a supply of water, in
seasons like the present, when any contained in the smaller channels may
be dried up. In the afternoon we lost a horse, which fell from a
precipitous part of the bank, at the junction of the creek with the
river. One man was leading four, when one horse kicked another, which,
falling perpendicularly, from a height of about forty feet, was so much
hurt as to be unable to rise. The folly, or rather obstinacy of the man,
leading so many together, on the verge of a precipice, was contrary to
particular orders previously given, and which ought to have been enforced
by Graham, who was in charge. Thermometer, at sunrise, 32 deg.; at noon, 78 deg.;
at 4 P.M., 79 deg.; at 9, 60 deg.;--with wet bulb, 45 deg..
18TH OCTOBER.--The horse, still unable to get on his legs, and apparently
dying, was shot, and buried in the sand of the bed of the creek. This
loss, when we were so near our depot camp, was much to be regretted, as
we should have otherwise taken back every bullock and horse, after an
absence, from that camp, of four months and fifteen days. We saw not a
single native about the woods or the river, and were, therefore, the more
anxious to know how Mr. Kennedy and the natives had agreed at the depot
camp, now within a day's ride of us. We continued to follow our former
track to Camp XXXI, and it may be remarked, to their credit, that the
aborigines had not attempted to deface any of these marked trees. It
might have occurred, even to them, that such marks were preparatory to
the advent of more white men into their country. The fine, deep reaches
in the river, looked still full and unfailing; and a short journey to-
morrow would take us to the camp of the rest of the party. We this day
found a little jasmine in flower, of which Mr. Stephenson had formerly
collected the seeds. It was white, not more than a foot high, with
solitary white flowers, emitting a delightful fragrance, and it grew in
the light sandy forest land.[*] A tree loaded with pods, which the
natives eat, has been determined by Sir William Hooker to be the
BRACHYCHITON POPULNEUM, Br., or STERCULIA HETEROPHYLLA of Cunn. Here was
picked up a singular little annual plant, belonging to the genus PIMELEA,
with hairy, loose spikes of minute green flowers[**]; and by the river we
found the CALANDRINIA BALONENSIS.
[* J. SUAVISSIMUM (Lindl. MS.); herbaceum, ramis angulatis, foliis
sessilibus simplicibus alternis oppositisque lineari-lanceolatis,
pedunculis solitariis unifloris supra medium bibracteatis foliis
longioribus, sepalis subulatis, corollae laciniis 5-7 acutissimis.]
[** P. TRICHOSTACHYA (Lindl. MS.); annua, foliis alternis linearibus
pilis paucis adpressis, spicis laxis terminalibus villosissimis.]
The morrow was looked forward to with impatience. Four months and a half
had the main body of the party been stationary; and that was a long time
to look back upon, with the expectation that it had remained undisturbed,
although isolated in a country still claimed and possessed by savages.
Thermometer, at sunrise, 38 deg.; at noon, 83 deg.; at 4 P.M., 86 deg.; at 9, 64 deg.;--
with wet bulb, 48 deg..
19TH OCTOBER.--The party was early in motion along the old track. Leaving
the intermediate camp to the left, we struck across the country so as to
hit the track again within a few miles of the depot camp. Old tracks of
cattle, when the earth had been soft, and the print of A SHOE, were the
first traces of the white man's existence we met with; nor did we see any
thing more conclusive, until the tents on the cliffs overhanging the
river were visible through the trees. We saw men, also, and even
recognised some of them, before our party was observed; nor did they see
us advancing, with a flag on the cart, until Brown sounded the bugle.
Immediately all were in motion, Mr. Kennedy coming forward to the cliffs,
while the whole party received us with cheers, to which my men heartily
responded. Mr. Kennedy ran down the cliffs to meet me, and was the first
to give me the gratifying intelligence that the whole party were well;
that the cattle and sheep were safe and fat; and, that the aborigines had
never molested them. A good stock-yard had been set up; a storehouse had
also been built; a garden had been fenced in, and contained lettuce,
radishes, melons, cucumbers. Indeed, the whole establishment evinced the
good effects of order and discipline. Drysdale, the storekeeper, had
collected many birds and plants, and had also been careful of the stores.
The orphan from the Bogan, little Dicky, had grown very much, and seemed
a very intelligent boy; and the little intercourse Mr. Kennedy had had
with the aborigines, limited as it was, by my instructions to him, was
curiously characteristic of the tact and originality of this singular
race. On one occasion, when on being informed that natives were near, he
had hastened to meet them, taking little Dicky with him, he found
remaining only a female and her mother, a remarkably old woman, who had
before concealed herself among the reeds. The daughter on his approach
sung a beautiful song, rapidly running through the whole gammut. Then
bowing her head, she presented the back of it to him, and placing her
stone-tomahawk in his hand, she bade him strike. Mr. Kennedy threw the
tomahawk on the ground; and seeing the grey head amongst the reeds, he
prevailed on the mother to come out. She was hideous in person, which was
much more AFFREUX from the excessive rage with which she seemed to
denounce the white men;--her fiend-like eyes flashing fire, as if
prophetic of the advent of another race, and the certain failure of her
own.
The daughter seemed, at first, to treat lightly the ire of her aged
parent, playfully patting with her finger her mother's fearfully
protruding lip. Mr. Kennedy endeavoured to ascertain, through Dicky, the
downward course of the river, and she seemed to express, and to point
also, that the river passed southerly into the Balonne, which river she
named, and even the Culgoa: she seemed to say the name of that locality
was "Mundi." Neither of these females had any covering, but the younger
wore, by way of ornament, a page of last year's Nautical Almanac,
suspended by a cord from her neck. The mother continuing implacable, the
daughter, with a graceful expression of respect for her, and courtesy to
the stranger, waved her arm for him to retire, which gesture Mr. Kennedy
and Dicky immediately obeyed. At another interview, a scheme to decoy
Dicky away was tried, as related thus in Mr. Kennedy's journal:--"Sunday,
26th July. Prayers were read at 11 A.M., after which, having been told by
Drysdale that the natives were still near the camp, and that there was a
native amongst them who could make himself more intelligible to Dicky
than the rest, I had started down the river to see them to collect what
information I could, and then induce them to go farther from the camp. I
had not gone far before the cooys from the tents made me aware that the
natives were by this time in sight. I therefore returned, and the first
object that caught my eye was the bait--a gin, dancing before some
admiring spectators; and behind her was a fine, lusty native advancing by
great strides, as he considered the graceful movements of his gin were
gaining as fast upon the hearts of the white men. On going up to him
Dicky put the usual questions as to the name of the river, and its
general course. His reply to the first was not very satisfactory, but our
impression was that he called it Balun. With respect to its course, he
plainly said that it joined the Balonne; repeatedly pointing in the
direction of that river and then following with his hand, the various
windings of this branch; repeating the while some word implying 'walk,
walk,' and ending with 'Balonne.' He knew the names of the mountains
Bindango and Bindyego. After this conversation he took some fat, which he
appeared to have brought for the purpose, and anointed Dicky by chewing
it, and then spitting upon his head and face. He next whispered to him,
and (as Dicky says) invited him to join them. I then motioned to the men,
who were looking on at a short distance, to go to the camp; and as they
obeyed, I made the same signs to the native to move in the opposite
direction, which he at length did with evident reluctance and
disappointment, throwing away his green bough, and continually looking
back as he retired. I desired Dicky to tell him never to come near our
tents, and that no white man should go to his camp."
It seems that one family only inhabits these parts, as only three huts at
most were to be seen in any part of the country, either up or down the
river; a very fortunate circumstance for our party, obliged to remain so
long at one spot, after such a formal notice had been given to quit it,
as our visitors of the 30th of May gave during my absence. Mr. Drysdale,
the store-keeper, had collected an herbarium during the long sojourn of
the party at that camp, which included many new plants. In August, plants
had begun to blossom; and in September various novelties had been found
in flower. In August, he gathered EURYBIA SUBSPICATA, Hook. EURYBIOPSIS
MACRORHIZA; or a species allied to it. ACACIA DECORA; GOODENIA
CORONOPIFOLIA R. Br.; CONVOLVULUS ERUBESCENS; a hairy variety of BORONIA
BIPINNATA, with smaller flowers than usual, and most of the leaves simply
pinnate. A cruciferous plant, probably new; two new species of EURYBIA
and CALOTIS, SENECIO CARNOSULUS? D. C. An ASPERULA? with the habit of
Galium. MYOPORUM DULCE; VERONICA PLEBEIA; an acerose LEUCOPOGON; a
species of violet, with small, densely-spiked flowers (was covered with
wild bees in search of its honey). A species of BRUNONIA, apparently the
same as the B. SIMPLEX of the north bank of the Darling, but taller and
less hairy. A NYSSANTHES, apparently undescribed; SWAINSONA
CORONILLOEFOLIA; a small variety of SALSOLA AUSTRALIS; XEROTES
DECOMPOSITA, a hard-leaved, sedgy plant; a fine LEUCOPOGON, with
unilateral flowers; and another species with yellowish blossoms, both
perhaps new. A pretty little grass belonging to the genus PAPPOPHORUM,
with a blackish green colour.[*] A magnificent new ACACIA, with leaves
nearly a foot long.[**] A minute annual CALANDRINIA.[***] An ERODIUM,
closely resembling the European E. LITTOREUM, Arn. and Benth., from Isle
of St. Lucie; it was also found by A. Cunningham in the swamps of the
Lachlan. A new PROSTANTHERA, with indented glandular viscid leaves.[****]
A beautiful ever-lasting plant belonging to the genus HELIPTERES.[*****]
A new LEPTOCYAMUS, with slender, trailing, hairy stems.[******] SIDA
VIRGATA (Hook. MS.)[*******] SIDA FILIFORMIS (A. Cunn.).[********] A new
DODONOEA in the way of the D. CUNEATA of the colony, with long, slender
flower stalks.[*********]
[* P. VIRENS (Lindl. MS.); pumilum, caespitosum, aristis 9 plumosis
rigidis apice nudis, spica composita laxa tenui villosa, glumis pilosis,
paleis sericeo-pilosis, foliis tactu scabris vaginis pilosis juxta
ligulam villosis.]
[** A. MACRADENIA (Benth. MS.); glabra, ramulis angulatis, phyllodiis
elongatis subfalcatis acutiusculis basi longe angustatis marginatis
crassiusculis uninervibus penniveniis nitidis glandula magna prope basin,
racemis brevibus polycephalis flexuosis subpaniculatis, capitulis
multifloris, calyce breviter dentato apice corollaque aureo-hispidulis,
ovario tomentoso.--Near A. FALCIFORMIS D. C. Phyllodia eight to ten
inches, or near a foot long, from six to ten lines broad.]
[*** C. PUSILLA (Lindl. MS.); foliis equitantibus subacinaciformibus
radicalibus, caulibus simplicibus racemosis v. unifloris, floribus longe
pedunculatis infimis divaricatis, floribus minutis 8-andris.]
[**** P. EUPHRASIOIDES (Benth. MS.) tota viscoso-villosa, foliis
linearioblongis pinnatifido-dentatis ad axillas subfasciculatis, floribus
paucisaxillaribus breviter pedicellatis, calycis labiis integris,
antherarum calcare longiore loculum superante.--The foliage and flowers
look at first sight very much like those of some of the AUSTRALIAN
EUPHRASIOE. The leaves are about three lines long.]
[***** H. GLUTINOSA (Hook. MS.); piloso-glandulosa, viscosa, foliis
angustolinearibus cuspidato-acuminatissimis, capitulis solitariis.--Young
buds rich rose-colour: full blown capitula pure white, the involucre
having a slight tinge of purple.]
[****** L. LATIFOLIUS (Benth. MS.); molliter villosus, foliolis
membranaceis oblique obovatis ovalibusque utrinque adpresse pubescentibus
villosisve, calycibus subsessilibus villosis.]
[******* S. FILIFORMIS (All. Cunn. MS.); tota stellato-tomentosa, ramis
patentissimis elongatis, foliis brevissime petiolatis cordato-ovatis
crenato-serratis, pedunculis axillaribus unifloris gracillimis folio
triplo longioribus, calyce 5-fido petalis duplo breviore.]
[******** S. VIRGATA (Hook. MS.); ramis elongatis virgatis stellato-
tomentosis, foliis brevissime petiolatis lineari-oblongis serratis supra
pubescentivelutinis subtus calyceque 5-fido stellato-pannosis
fulvescentibus, stipulis acicularibus rigidis spinescentibus, pedunculis
axillaribus unifloris folio brevioribus, petalis (flavis) calyce duplo
longioribus.]
[********* D. PEDUNCULARIS (Lindl. MS.); viscosa, glabra, foliis rigidis
elongatis spathulatis acutis tridentatis integrisque lobo medio majore,
pedicellis 1-3-filiformibus, capsulis tetrapteris viscosis alis coriaceis
rotundatis.]
In September, were gathered in water-holes on the ranges, RANUNCULUS
SESSILIFLORUS, Br. in De Cand.; and near the camp the hard-leaved XEROTES
LAXA; JUSTICIA MEDIA; EVOLVULUS LINIFOLIUS; GOODENIA FLAGELLIFERA De Vr.;
CHLOANTHES STOECHADIS; the beautiful ACACIA SPECTABILIS, loaded with
yellow flowers, on the banks of the river S. W. of the camp. A broader
haired variet of ACACIAPENNIFOLIA; BOERHAAVIA MUTABILIS, Br. ? TECOMA
OXLEYI; ACACIA CUNNINGHAMII; CARISSA OVATA Br.? a spiny, zigzag, shrub
with shining leaves and white flowers; CASSIA ZYGOPHYLLA. A variety of
SIDA PISIFORMIS, A. Cunn., with closer leaves and a browner pubescence;
SIDA (Abutilon) FRAZERI Hook. var. PUMILA. KERAUDRENIA INTEGRIFOLIA;
LEPTOCYAMUS LATIFOLIUS; POMAX HIRTA? D. C., or a variety. EREMOPHILA
MITCHELLII var.? LATIFOLIA (Benth. MS.). DODONOEA ACEROSA, A.
HELICHRYSUM? near H. ODORUM D. C., but with the leaves downy on both
sides. PIMELEA COLORANS, a plant found by A. Cunningham along the river
Macquarie. STACKHOUSIA MURICATA, Lindl., which is, perhaps, not distinct
from S. SPATULATA, Sieb. A PODOLEPIS, resembling P. RUGATA Labill.
PODOLEPIS LONGIPEDATA, D. C. SOLANUM BIFLORUM, a grey-leaved, dwarf,
herbaceous plant. RANUNCULUS PLEBEIUS, very like an English buttercup. A
PLEURANDRA, near P. ERICIFOLIA, probably a variety. RUELLIA AUSTRALIS;
PITTOSPORUM SALICINUM. One of the Dodder laurels (CASSYTHA PUBESCENS, R.
Br.), a species also found near Port Jackson. VIGNA LANCEOLATA; XEROTES
LONGIFOLIA, a very common, hard-leaved plant. ANTHERICUM BULBOSUM, R. Br.
GERANIUM PARVIFLORUM? or one nearly allied to it: exactly the same
species is found in Van Diemen's Land. HELIPTERUM ANTHEMOIDES? D. C., but
smaller in all its parts. NEPTUNIA GRACILIS; BRUNONIA SERICEA; SIDA,
apparently new. A new and fine species of MENTHA.[*] A new, round-leaved
species of PROSTANTHERA.[**] A new species of SWAINSONA[***]; PLEURANDRA
CISTOIDEA (Hook. MS.).[****] A new TRICHINIUM, with conical flower-
heads.[*****] A species of HIBISCUS, with purple flowers.[******] A new
species of DAVIESIA, with spiny, shaggy leaves.[*******] Thermometer, at
sunrise, 46 deg.; at noon, 81 deg.; at 4 P.M., 75 deg.; at 9, 50 deg.;--with wet bulb,
47 deg..
[* M. GRANDIFLORA (Benth. MS.); molliter pubescens, caulibus erectis,
foliis petiolatis ovatis acutiusculis dentatis planis verticillatis laxis
sexfloris, calycis dentibus lanceolato-subulatis intus vix pilosis,
corolla calyce subduplo longiore, staminibus exsertis.--Near M. AUSTRALIS
Br., but the leaves broader and flowers larger.]
[** P. RINGENS (Benth. MS.); ramulis puberulis, foliis petiolatis
rhombeoorbiculatis integerrimis utrinque opacis glandulosis, calycis
glandulosi glabri labiis integris, corollae labio superiore subgaleato,
antherarum calcaribus loculo brevioribus.--Foliage nearly that of P.
RHOMBEA. Flowers much larger.]
[*** S. PHACOIDES (Benth. MS.); decumbens molliter pubescens, foliolis
13- 15-linearibus cuneatisve, pedunculis folio longioribus apice
paucifloris, legumine brevissime stipitato villoso.--A low plant with
much the habit of several PHACAS or ASTRAGALI. Flower yellow, smaller
than in S. CORONILLOEFOLIA.]
[**** P. CISTOIDEA (Hook. MS.); pilis stellatis brevibus rigidis asperis,
foliis angusto-linearibus obtusis marginibus revolutis, floribus in ramos
breves solitariis, staminibus sub-12 unilateralibus, filamentis infra
medium inaequaliter connexis antheras longitudine aequantibus, ovario
parvo globoso lanato.]
[***** T. CONICUM (Lindl. MS.); hirto-pubescens, caule basi diviso, ramis
ascendentibus subsimplicibus, foliis lineari-lanceolatis acutis, spica
conica, bracteis unincrviis mucronatis glabris, rachi tomentosa.]
[****** H. STURTII (Hook. MS.); suffruticosus ubique subtus praecipue
dense stellatim tomentosus, foliis petiolatis oblongo-ovatis ellipticisve
obtusis grosse crenato-serratis, pedunculis axillaribus unifloris
solitariis folio brevioribus, involucro monophyllo ..... turbinato 6-8-
fido calycem 5-fidum aequante, capsulis hispidissimis.--This species was
also found by Capt. Sturt in the south interior. The flowers are purple,
sometimes yellowish in drying. The involucre is very remarkable,
monophyllous, broad at top and 6 or 8-cleft, almost wholly concealing the
calyx.--W. J. H.]
[******* D. FILIPES (Benth. MS.); ramis hirsutis inermibus, foliis
ovalioblongis sublanceolatisve apice spinoso-mucronatis planis
pubescentibus, pedicellis filiformibus folio demum longioribus in
pedunculo brevissimo solitariis geminisve.]
20TH OCTOBER.--It was necessary to halt here a day or two, that the
blacksmith might have time to repair the light carts, and shoe the
horses. I took a ride this day with Mr. Kennedy to a hill some miles
eastward of the camp, in which he had found some remarkable fossils. The
hill consisted of a red ferruguinous sandstone, in parts of which were
imbedded univalve and bivalve shells, pieces of water-worn or burnt wood,
and what seemed fragments of bone. To some of the portions of wood, young
shells adhered, but others bore, evidently, marks of fire; showing the
black scarified parts, and those left untouched or unscarified, very
plainly. Other portions of woods had their ends waterworn, and were full
of long cracks, such as appear in wood long exposed to the sun. These
specimens were, in general, silicified: but the outer parts came off in
soft flakes resembling rotten bark, being equally pliant, although they
felt gritty, like sand, between the teeth. This hill was rather isolated,
but portions of tabular masses, forming the range of St. George's Pass,
and in contact with the volcanic hill of Mount Kennedy which forms a
nucleus to these cliffy ranges, being about 9 miles N. E. of this hill,
to which, from its contents, I gave the name of Mount Sowerby. The
weeping GEIJERA PENDULA again occurred in abundance near Mount Sowerby;
the CAPPARIS LASIANTHA was climbing up the rocks there, and amongst the
grasses we observed a species of the genus LAPPAGO, perhaps not distinct
from the Indian L. BIFLORA. Thermometer, at sunrise, 39 deg.; at noon, 56 deg.; 4
P.M., 87 deg.; at 9, 67 deg.; with wet bulb, 52 deg..
21ST OCTOBER.--I took a ride with Mr. Kennedy to the summit to which I
had attached his name, having occasion to take a back angle from it on
Mount Owen, and one or two other points. I could there show him many of
the distant summits to the northward of the country, I was about to lay
down on my map. We rode over a fine tract of forest land, extending from
the camp to the foot of the mountain, a distance of about twelve miles.
On the high range grew a profusion of a beautiful little PTEROSTYLIS,
quite new, but in the way of P. RUFA[*], a single specimen of a new
KENNEDYA was gathered there.[**] On the plains we found a curious new
form of the genus DANTHONIA, much resembling wheat in ear[***], and a new
JASMINE, with a rich perfume, resembling I. LINEARE, but with short
axillary corymbs of flowers. This species has been named by Dr. Lindley
after myself.[****] We found also the SOLANUM VIOLACEUM with its violet
flowers and orange spines. A fine wiry herbage was formed by the
LAXMANNIA GRACILIS, now in flower, ERYTHROEA AUSTIALIS D. C., a
smallflowered species of CENTAURY, the DIANELLA RARA, R. Br. and SALVIA
PLEBEIA. Thermometer, at sunrise, 48 deg.; at noon, 85 deg.; at 4, P.M., 84 deg.; at
9, 65 deg. with wet bulb, 52 deg..
[* P. MITCHELLII (Lindl. MS.); foliis omnibus radicalibus stellatis,
vaginis scapi multiflori 3 remotis, scpalis setaceo-acuminatis, labelli
lamina ovato-lineari obtusa canaliculata supra pilis (luteis) articulatis
crinita.]
[** K. PROCURRENS (Benth. MS.); foliolis 3 ellipticis ovatisve
mucronulatis utrinque hirtellis subtus reticulatis, stipulis subcordato-
lanceolatis acutissimis striatis, pedunculis versus apicem plurifloris
petiolo multo longioribus, floribus subnutantibus.--Flowers considerably
smaller than in K. PROSTRATA, and petals narrower.]
[*** D. TRITICOIDES (Lindl. MS.); culmo ramoso stricto, foliis glabris
margine spinoso-scabris basi planis apice involutis, spica cylindracea
disticha secunda, spiculis subtrifloris flore summo mutico abortiente,
paleae inferioris dorso lanatae arista recta gluma mucronata multinervi
longiore.]
[**** J. MITCHELLII; foliis ternatis glabris; foliolis linearibus
linearilanceolatisque, ramis teretibus, corymbis axillaribus
subsessilibus foliis multo brevioribus, calycibus pubescentibus
subtruncatis 5-dentatis, corollae limbo 5-fido acuto.]
22D OCTOBER.--The information Mr. Kennedy had gathered from the natives,
about the final course of the river; his surveys thereof, which, even on
foot, he had extended sixteen miles (eight miles each way from the camp),
and the fact, that the fish of the Balonne, Cod, or GRISTES PEELII had,
at length been caught in it, all led to the conclusion that this river
was no other than the tributary which on the 24th, of April I at first
followed up, and afterwards halted and wrote back to Mr. Kennedy about.
By following this down, the probability that we should find water seemed
greater, than by returning along our old track, where we had left behind
some ponds so small that we could not hope to find any water remaining,
especially at two of the camps between us and Bindango, I therefore
determined to follow this river downward, and to survey its course. We
left the depot camp this morning, and to avoid some overhanging cliffs on
the river, we travelled first over an open tract. The camp we left,
namely, XXIX, or "MOONDI," or the "second depot camp," will be found a
valuable cattle-station or sheep-station, by the first squatter coming
this way. The runs about it are very extensive; the natives few and
inoffensive, and the stock-yard etc., left there, renders it very
complete. I must not omit, however, to mention, that the water had become
slightly brackish, but not so as to be unpalatable, or even, indeed,
perceptible, except to persons unused to it. The large reach had fallen
two feet since the party first occupied that station. In other reaches
lower down, that we passed during this day's journey, the water was
perfectly sweet. I proceeded about thirteen miles with the light party,
and encamped at the junction of a little river from the N. W. formerly
crossed by me (on my ride of 23d May). A new poppy was found on the flats
by the river, near PAPAVER DUBIUM; but the leaves, when dry, became
darkgreen not pale; the aculei are too numerous and stout, pectant not
depressed, and the flowers very small. The teams and drays did not arrive
as expected, and the men with me had not brought any provisions with
them. We saw natives in the woods before we encamped, and parts of the
grass on fire. A beautifully worked net, laid carefully under a piece of
bark, having two curiously carved stakes attached to it, was found by Mr.
Kennedy, who made deep impressions of his boots in the soil near it, that
the natives might see that white men had been there, and had left the net
untouched. Thermometer, at sunrise, 47 deg.; at noon, 81 deg.; at 4 P.M., 85 deg.; at
9, 70 deg.; with wet bulb, 56 deg.. Height above the sea, 1185 feet (Camp 76).