rney.

'September' 15.--Following up the course of the river, the 6th camp
was reached in 26 miles, where the feed was so good that Mr. Jardine
determined to halt for a day and recruit the horses. On the way they
again passed some natives who were fishing in a large lagoon, but
shewed no hostility. They had an opportunity of seeing their mode of
spearing the fish, in which they used a long heavy four-pronged
spear, barbed with kangaroo bones.

'September' 16.--Was spent in fishing and hunting, whilst the
horses luxuriated in the abundant feed. They caught some perch, and
a fine cod, not unlike the Murray cod in shape, but darker and
without scales. At night, there being a fine moonlight, they went
out to try and shoot opossums as an addition to the larder, but were
unsuccessful. They appeared to be very scarce.

'September' 17.--Resuming their journey, the party travelled 21
miles, to a spot about 4 miles below No. 5 camp, on Gaala Creek, and
turned out. Here they met with wild lucerne in great abundance, and
a great deal of mica and talc was observed in the river. During the
day Mr. Jardine shot a bustard, and some fish being again caught in
the evening, there was high feeding in camp at night. The bagging of
a bustard, or plain turkey as it is more commonly called, always
makes a red day for the kitchen. Its meat is tender and juicy, and
either roasted whole, dressed into steaks, or stewed into soup, makes
a grateful meal for a hungry traveller.

'September' 18.--Keeping out some distance from its banks to avoid
the stones and deep gullies, the party followed up the river to the
junction of Parallel Creek: this was traced, keeping along its bed
for the same reason, by which course only they were enabled to avoid
them. These, as before described, were very thickly strewn making
the journey tedious and severe on the horses, so that only 14 miles
were accomplished, when they camped on a large waterhole five miles
above the junction. The beautiful Burdekin duck ('Tadorna Radjah')
was met with, of which Mr. Jardine shot a couple.

'September' 19.--Still keeping along the bed of Parallel Creek, the
party travelled up its course. This they were constrained to do, in
consequence of the broken and stony banks and country on the east
side, whilst an abrupt wall of basalt prevented them leaving the bed
on the west. At 13 miles they camped for a couple of hours in the
middle of the day, on a large creek which