ded well-grassed
plain to a watercourse from the east, with long holes of water. Here a
black was observed in the distance. As this was the first whom we had
seen since leaving the depot, and as I never had observed tracks on
either this expedition or the one to the south-west which a thundershower
would not efface, I think there cannot be many blacks in the country near
the Gulf of Carpentaria. At 3 came east-south-east over rich low plains
with large patches of saltbush for two miles. At 3.35 came
south-south-east over slightly undulating land with abundance of grass,
and slightly wooded with trees and bushes, for two miles to a watercourse
from the east. On the country I have just mentioned grow bushes like the
garden-box, loaded with fruit pleasant to the taste. We broke branches
and ate the berries as we rode along. At 4.23 came up the watercourse a
quarter of a mile and crossed. This was a matter of difficulty as it was
boggy. At 5.20 came over rich level country with boggy watercourses from
the east and encamped. Distance today twenty and a quarter miles.

March 2. Camp 17, situated on the right bank of the Flinders River.

Tea-trees here fringe the channel which looks permanently watered.
Although this was Sunday we came up the river. I thought it as well to do
so, Mr. Bourne and Jackey, while they were away from our party shooting,
having observed a strong body of blacks. We started at 9 a.m. At 11 came
south-east and by east over rich level land, grassed with herbage and
wooded with box and bauhinia. At 11.15 came south half a mile and
encamped. It rained heavily so the work of packing up, saddling, packing
the horses, driving them over sloppy, boggy ground, unpacking them, and
making a fire with wet wood was anything but pleasant employment.
Distance today five miles.

March 3.

It rained so heavily that we remained here. The ground was so soft that
the horses, much as they are inclined for rambling, did not go further
away than a quarter of a mile.

March 4.

We started this morning at 8.20. Came east three-quarters of a mile over
rich level ground with a few trees upon it. The ground was so soft from
the rain that the horses were with difficulty driven along. From
following each other in single file and sinking at every step to their
fetlocks the track they made was so deep that it will not be easily
effaced. At 10.50 came south-east for five miles and a half across rich
plains with the greenest herb