Part 31 (1/2)

The night was cloudy, and it was not till after daybreak that I could get observations for latitude by altitudes of Venus and b Centauri At 65 aain in the saddle, and steered south-east to a rocky hill, which we reached at 70; the hill was sandstone, rising about 150 feet above the trap plain; from the summit the vieas extensive, but fro could be traced of either the courses of creeks or rivers; to the south the trap plain rose to a greater elevation than the summit of the hill ere on, and was surmounted by table hills of sandstone at ten miles distance to the east and north-east; the country appeared to consist of plains of basaltic for this hill at 80, followed a dry rocky creek to the east and north-east, through basaltic plains with sandstone hills and ridges, till 1030, and halted during the heat of the day At this place the bed of the creek had been cut through the basalt into the sandstone, exposing a fine section of the junction of the two rocks; the sandstone wasbeen deeply cracked, the basalt had filled the fissures of the older rock This altered sandstone and also a white quartz-like rock are much used by the natives for the heads of their spears; and during this day's journey great quantities of broken stones and imperfect spear heads were noticed on the banks of the creek At 345 pm recommenced our journey, and proceeded down the creek to the north-east till 630, and bivouacked

Latitude by Capella, Saturn, and Canopus 17 degrees 24 seconds

ROE'S DOWNS

26th January

Having ascertained that the party could be e, commenced our return to the caently for ten rassed, but thinly wooded; the soil was stony, with fragher part of the plain there were several hills of trap-rock, forhest of these we named Mount Sanford, and the plains Roe's Downs The country now generally sloped to the bank of the creek near the western limit of the plain, at which, after six hours' ride, we halted at 1135 The banks of the creek are of trap-rock; but the sandstone is exposed in the bed; the pools of water are deep and apparently permanent

At 40 resumed our route and passed over about one mile of sandstone, and then two ully at the western limit of the valley

27th January

At 530 aes of sandstone, till we struck our outward track, which we folloith some deviations to the ca was cloudy with a smart thunder-shower Dr Mueller informed me that he had traced the river about six miles to the west-south-west, but that beyond that point it appeared to come froe of hills

28th January

Having collected the horses, at 715 am steered south to the rocky creek, and followed it down to the rocky gorge and encamped As the valley was completely walled in by steep rocks, it appeared to be a suitable spot for a depot ca; and, fro up, it beca to the head of the Victoria while it was practicable to cross the ranges in which it was supposed to rise; but as many of the horses were quite unfit for the journey, it became necessary to leave them in soht equipment

FORM A DEPOT CAMP

29th January

Preparing equip arrangements for the formation of the depot caory, Dr Mueller, and C Dean, Mr Baines reest horses and had the and seven with pack saddles The following provisions were packed for the journey: 150 pounds pork, 300 pounds flour, 50 pounds rice, 10 pounds sago, 8 pounds tea, 6 pounds coffee, 48 pounds sugar

30th January

Left the cae course south-south-east till 1020, over stony ground, at the junction of the sandstone and trap for creek which cae to the west of our course Messrs Baines and Bowman, who had accompanied us thus far, returned to the camp, which I had instructed him to move to this creek as better for the horses, as one of them had shown symptoms of poison, and I feared to leave them in that locality A severe attack of the fever, fro of thefarther this day, as I had at first intended At 5 pht with incessant thunder and lightning

31st January

Being able to mount my horse, at 8 am left the ca the foot of the sandstone range--the basalt plain extending to the north-east At 1245 p to the south-south-west The whole of the country to the east of our track, except sorass The evening was raining, with continuous thunder

1st February

Steered north 160 degrees east from 625 ae creek trending east, in which there were soe pools of water We then entered the sandstone country, and crossed several rocky ridges; at 910 we had a good view frorassy plains extended almost to the horizon, to the south the country consisted of sandstone ranges, and to the south-east large grassy plains and rocky ridges appeared to alternate with each other Changing the course to south-east, traversed a fine plain covered with grass, beyond which was a rocky ridge, and then a second plain, in which we halted at 1110, as I was unable to keep on ain proceeded, and after crossing soth reached a large creek, at which we enca but reeds and triodia for the horses to eat

2nd February

Left the camp at 6 am and followed the creek up for three-quarters of an hour before we could find a crossing place; the course was then south-south-east over very broken sandstone country; at 950 halted in a grassy valley to feed the horses, and at 230 pe, and descended into a wide valley, the centre of which was occupied by a basaltic plain, at the edge of which we encamped at 355 pm

CRESTED PIGEON

3rd February

At 60 arees east; at 645 ae creek from the west, which joined the Victoria three-quarters of a mile to the east; but the deep and rocky character of the valley, or rather ravine, in which it ran precluded our approaching it, and we had to turn to the west, and descend from the basalt to the sandstone before the creek could be passed Continuing an average south course, at 1010 am came to the Victoria River; the whole channel did not exceed 150 yards in breadth, of which only twenty to fifty were now occupied by water, and the rest by dry rocks and gravel, overgrown by bushes With great difficulty we followed the river upwards, and were compelled to follow up a tributary creek for about a eon of Western Australia for the first time in this part of Australia

Latitude by Leonis 17 degrees 41 minutes