Part 36 (1/2)

17th April

Started at 625 am and reached Mount Sanford at 730, the country passed being sandstone producing triodia and a little grass The hill is of basalt with a flat top, but is based on sandstone; its forh and 300 feet in dia hills, we descended and steered south-west and west to the depot ca our absence Dr

Mueller had found full e the plants in the vicinity of the camp, and the rest of the party had been fully occupied in the care of the horses and duties of the caainmaps of the late excursion to the east of the depot; party preparing for the return to principal camp

19th April

Party employed as before

20th April (Sunday)

A fine cool breeze from the south, with thin clouds

21st April

Several of the horses had strayed some distance from the camp, and we did not start till 1230 pm, e steered north by west till 515 pm

and camped at a s the basaltic plain was very rocky, the hills corass was abundant in the valley, but the hills produced little but triodia and sum-trees

START FOR MAIN CAMP

22nd April

At 645 am steered east down the creek one mile to its junction with Depot Creek, which was followed north and north-north-east till 840 The back country rose into sandstone hills covered with triodia; but there were good grassy flats on the bank of the creek The creek then entered a rocky gorge about 100 yards wide, with cliffs upward of 100 feet high on each side With sorowth of reeds and brush, ae masses of rock and deep pools of water, till 1010, e reached a more open part of the valley The creek now turned to east-north-east, and the wide valley was bounded by low schist hills to the north and the sandstone range we had just passed to the south; except in the lower part of the valley and a few small patches on the hills the country was very poor and stony, triodia taking the place of the grass; water was abundant in the bed of the creek, where it fore permanent pools, bethich there was a s water in the upper part of the creek, but lower down the channel was dry between the pools; at 10 pht bank of the creek; crossed to the left bank of the creek at 620 pm and followed it north-east one hour, when the creek turned east and our course was over stony ridges; it was now found that one of the horses wasbeen lost in one of the dense thickets on the bed of the creek Mr H Gregory therefore returned to search for the lost animal, and we halted till 920, and then went on with the party, leaving Mr

Baines to wait on the track till Mr Gregory came up; at 1020 pm

reached the Wickham River and followed it down to the junction of Depot Creek, which we crossed at noon, and carassy flat about a ory and Mr Baines ca horse; at 30 aory and Bowman started to look for the horse

24th April

At 1030 Mr H Gregory brought in the pack-horse lost yesterday

Fortunately, this horse was not carrying a load, and though the saddle got under the horse's belly nothing was injured

25th April

Followed the river down from 740 ae tributary creek frorassy near the river, but rose into rocky hills with flat tops at a short distance froht easterly breeze

CROSS THE VICTORIA RANGE STOKES' RANGE

26th April

Continued the route along the right bank of the Wickhaeneral course east-north-east, and cae, which was very narrow and rocky, the country opened into level plains The best line of route to the upper part of the Wickham is near Mount Warburton, as the sandstone hills which fore are detached; the day was cool and cloudy, with a strong easterly breeze in theat sunset

27th April

At 725 am left the camp and steered east to the Victoria River, but as we could not find a fording place, turned north to the Wickham, and enca so densely covered with reeds that the water was not accessible; at noon I rode out with Mr H Gregory to search for a ford, as I wished to keep on the right bank of the river to ascertain what tributary streams joined from the east; after three hours' search found a practicable ford and returned to the ca on the left bank of the Wickha to the thick brush and reeds which filled the bed of the river