annuals. Yet notwithstanding these drawbacks it is a very fine
country, and if care is taken by the future occupiers not to overstock it
sheep and cattle will do remarkably well upon it. When it is occupied it
should be improved by having seeds sown during the beginning of the wet
season to produce plants with deep roots which will take the place of the
annuals. If this was done and tanks and wells made in the back country
the land would probably carry at least twice the quantity of stock it
could now; but to get improvements of that character made a freehold
tenure would probably be required. At 11.40 Jemmy and I waited behind the
main party on this extensive plain and made an observation of the sun,
namely, meridian altitude 74 degrees 34 minutes; latitude 20 degrees 37
minutes 30 seconds. Started on the track of our companions at 12.10; at
2.14 came south-east and by east for six miles over well-grassed plains
and overtook the main party. At a shallow watercourse surrounded by
rushes and polygonum I got off my horse to get a drink and carelessly let
him out of my hands. In a second he scampered off to the other horses.
Jackey however soon brought him back to me. At 2.50 came south-east for
about three-quarters of a mile and encamped. Distance this day sixteen
and three-quarter miles.

March 8. Camp 22, situated on the right bank of the Flinders River.

The river presents here a fine sheet of water; the channel has the
appearance of draining a large tract of country and is as large-looking
as the Nogoa River at its junction with the Comet River. Left camp this
morning at 8.1; at 8.55 came east and by south for two and three-quarter
miles along a plain behind the wooded country skirting the river to an
eastern channel of the river and delayed five minutes to get water; at
11.40 came north-east a mile and a half; then east five and a quarter
miles over gently undulating rich land, green with herbage and wooded
with box; crossed a small creek near its junction with the river; Jemmy
and I here left the party and cantered for two miles in a north-east
direction over high undulating rich ground with fine grass to a point
commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country. To the eastward
I observed about ten miles distant a line of wooded country which
probably fringes a stream flowing parallel to the Flinders River. Having
halted here I got the following observation, namely: meridian altitude of
the sun 74 degrees 8 m