Part 35 (1/2)

Preparing equipht party to explore the country to the east of the cahteen days' provisions for four persons The weather continues cloudy, with light variable winds

EXPLORE EAST OF THE DEPOT

2nd April

At 645 aory, Baines, and John Fahey, taking four riding and two pack horses, carrying eighteen days' rations, etc Steered east over an undulating grassy country of basaltic forenerally good, but very stony I had already traversed this country, and as the day was veryworthy of further record was observed At 130 pm altered the course to east-south-east, and at 315 ca north-east, in the bed of which were large pools of a permanent character The hills were basaltic, but the creeks having cut through the rocks and excavated the sandstone, the valleys were not of such a fertile character as the plains and ridges Timber holly absent, and only a few s was cloudy with light rain, but it cleared towards sunset

Latitude by e Argus 17 degrees 4 minutes 6 seconds

3rd April

Resumed our route at 630, and steered east-south-east to a basaltic hill, which we reached at 740; froreat extent of country was visible, but there were no es and isolated hills were nearly similar to each other The whole country appeared to be a nearly level basaltic plain, with100 to 200 feet above its surface, while the valleys of the creek were excavated to the depth of 100 feet The country ell grassed, but very stony; but this, though very inconvenient to the traveller, does not render it less valuable for pasture, as stony land always stands feeding better than any other At 820 altered the course to nearly east towards a low ridge of hills The plain ell grassed till 1250 pm, when the sandstone prevailed on the surface and triodia prevailed in the valleys At 150 followed down a rocky ravine, and at 215 encamped

THE VICTORIA RIVER

4th April

At 65 aully to the east-south-east; at 70 crossed a sandstone ridge, and beyond it a large creek from the south-west, in the bed of which there were some fine pools of water We then ascended to a basaltic plain, and altered the course to south-east; at 80 the country gradually declined to the east, and sandstone was the prevailing rock, but grass was abundant At 940 reached the Victoria, the course from south-south-west to north-north-east; the river had ceased to run and was now only in large pools; crossed to the right bank and steered south half an hour, and camped on the bank of a creek from south-south-east; at noon the sky was overcast, and at 2 p and continued till 430, with thunder; heavy dew at night After it coain before it ceased In this part of Australia neither wind nor rain appear to affect the atreat extent

ECLIPSE OF THE SUN

5th April

The result of the rain yesterday was a thick fog this , and e left the camp at 550 am we could not see 100 yards, and we traversed the basaltic plain in an east course till 70, when the fog cleared away and we found ourselves at the foot of some low rocky hills of basalt, over which we travelled north 70 degrees east These hills were very rough and stony, but covered with excellent grass We then entered a basaltic plain, richly grassed and less stony than usual At 930 crossed a basaltic ridge and entered a large valley trending to the north and east; at 1010 ascended a rocky hill about 150 feet high, and got bearings of the ranges, etc The country appeared to consist of grassy hills and plains, extending twenty to thirty e of basalt and sandstone hills intercepted the view Steered east fro country, the rocks being basalt, sandstone schist, and jasper; the basalt forh on the banks of the creek the jasper rested on the basalt At 210 pravelly channel twenty yards wide Fahey obtained a large quantity of mussels from the pools in the creek; they proved an excellent addition to our supper, though rather deficient in flavour The weather was cloudy, and, though there was an occasional sight of the sun, we could observe neither the commencement or end of the solar eclipse I was therefore unable to avail itude

Latitude by e Argus 17 degrees 9 minutes 6 seconds

6th April

Left the carassy plain; at 725 crossed soe creek; at 815 turned south-east and followed the creek till noon It then turned south, and at 1215 pm we camped at a shallow pool of muddy water The creek was here divided into several small channels, in which only a few pools of water remained The whole of the country traversed this day was nearly level, well grassed, and very open Basalt and jasper are the prevailing rocks

Latitude by Regulus and Argus 17 degrees 15 minutes 45 seconds

7th April

As the creek appeared to co course, but to rise in the low sandstone ranges which were visible in that direction, it was useless to follow it farther; we therefore steered northwards to intercept any streaht join the Victoria River lower down its course, and, after travelling over open grassy ridges of basalt for six hours, at 1225 pully, in which there were sos

The country for five to ten rassy, basalt being the prevailing rock

RUNNING WATER FINE PASTORAL COUNTRY

8th April

At 60 ae west-north-west course over an undulating grassy country of basaltic formation; at 1145 reached the bank of the creek, which forrassy country on both sides, well suited for stock Followed the creek west till 15 pm, e crossed to the left bank and encarees 59 minutes