ped. Frank Jardine went up it for a few miles,
and found a spot at which to cross the next day, in the same manner
as at the last. At this camp some capital barramundi and perch were
caught, one of the former weighing no less than 14 pounds. They were
a great treat, as the party had been without meat for some days, the
heavy rains allowing them no chance of killing. The distance
travelled to-day was 12 miles, and course generally N.N.W., but the
track was winding in consequence of having to lead the horses, and
thread the way through the soundest looking places. (Camp LVI.)

CHAPTER IV

New Year's Day--Sinclair Creek--New Year's Creek--Kinloch Creek -
Micketeeboomulgeiai--The River Archer--The Coen--Slough of Despond
- River Batavia--Two Horses Drowned--Five Horses Poisoned -
Symptoms--Abandon Baggage--Cache--Party commence Walking -
Difficult Travelling--Two more Horses Die--Last Encounter with
Natives--Pandanus Thorns--Another Horse Sickens--Urgency of
Getting Forward--Dalhunty Creek--Another Horse Dies--"Creamy" and
"Rocket" Die--Skardon's Creek--Pitcher Plant--Two Saddles
Abandoned--Nell Gwynne's Foal Killed--Richardson's Range.

'January' 1.--Kendall Creek was crossed early on the morning of
this, New Year's Day, and subsequently at distances of 10 and 14
miles, two small creeks of running water, coming from the eastward,
named respectively Sinclair and New Year's Creeks, in which lilies
were abundant ('Blue Nympheas'), and on the last of which the party
camped. The progress was rendered very tedious and difficult, by the
large trunks and branches of trees, which had been blown down by the
storm of the 30th December, over and amongst which the weak horses
kept constantly falling. The country changed into red sandy ridges,
shewing an outcrop of sandstone, timbered with tall straight saplings
of stringy-bark and bloodwood, the larger timber having in all cases
been blown down. Some grass-tree country was also passed, covered
with quartz pebbles, white, or colored with oxide of iron. The
distance accomplished was 14 miles on a course of N.E. by N. (Camp
LVII. Nonda.) A heavy thunder-storm broke at night, followed by
steady rain.

'January' 2.--The heavy rain, boggy soil, and recent long stages
made it necessary to turn out the cattle during the last night, as
the poor animals had so little chance of feeding during the day.
They were, however, gathered by the time the horses were ready in the
morn