Part 15 (1/2)

15th June

Following the gully upon which we had encamped, it led us to the ard, over a rocky line of country, until 1 preat weakness and symptoms of distress from the loss of their shoes, it was found desirable to quit thetributary co back on the plains under the Hae, should we fail to meet ater sooner; fortunately, however, in an hour we cast rocks, surrounded by some tolerable feed Had we failed to find this timely relief, it is probable that not more than half the horses would have been able to carry their loads to the nearest knoaterhole

Camp 22

16th June (Sunday)

This day of rest was alike acceptable toprayers to the party, to clear a set of lunar distances, by which I found that the chronometer would have placed us fortysince observed that it could not be trusted under even ordinary variations of te Surveyor-General having declined to supplyto his department that could be relied on, and in consequence I now found I should be compelled to have recourse entirely to lunar observations and triangulation for the compilation of the maps, which would add very much to the amount of labour and liability to error

Several crested pigeons, white cockatoos, and crested quail or partridges, were shot as they came to drink at the waterhole

METAMORPHIC ROCKS

17th June

The horses had so far recovered after the day's rest that ere enabled to resu down the bed of the streahtly iain had to enca, however, obtained a sravel at noon The hills to the east of our track rose about 1000 feet above the bed of the watercourse, and consisted of metamorphic sandstones and shales, intersected by whinstone dykes, their suloe of altered rocks, and exhibited a very singular contortion of the strata, the la a dip on each flank of 45 degrees, for for some distance into the hill Ca to follow the streaht or nine rass, on which we halted, to allow the horses the benefit, on account of their not having had any water since noon yesterday In the meanwhile, accompanied by Mr Brown, I started off and walked to a proet a view of the surrounding country From the summit of this hill, which we found to have an elevation of 700 or 800 feet, we procured a valuable round of bearings, and had a distant view of the country to the southward Level plains and detached ranges of eneral character of the country towards the Lyons River We returned to the party by 30 p our absence water had been found in shallow clay-pans a mile to the ard, to which we rees 56 rees 21 minutes

19th June

We were unable to proceed this day, owing toeaten some of the dwarf mesembryanthemum, which I had formerly observed to be used as food by the natives on the Gascoyne, but which had produced withThe horses were, however, enjoying excellent feed; and I contrived to work up my map and clear a lunar

20th June

Started at 725 aed to leave behind a horse belonging to Mr Lennard, so la the stream-bed nearly west for ten s--the first we had reat value, as there was no water that could be depended upon on our return, in the last sixtyon quickly for twelve miles further, the river entered a wide plain, in which was soht without water

DEPOT CAMP ON THE HARDEY RIVER

21st June

Although the size of the channel of the river we had been following down for the last sixty miles had considerably increased both in width and depth, yet very little water had been found in it, and as it took a decided turn in its course thisto north-west, after two hours'

ride, without observing any change, and there being every appearance of its keeping the same course for the next twenty miles, I was convinced that it could not be a tributary to either the Edht prove The baroh for it to be at a sufficient elevation to ad into either of those rivers, as the elevation of the Lyons at the confluence of the Al named the river the Hardey, we fell back upon the pools passed yesterday, where I had decided upon for a depot cahtly equipped party I proposed to co between this and the Lyons River Caitude 117 degrees 10 minutes

22nd June