332 DR. LEICHHARDT'S TRAVELS. 
belt of downs above the scrubs of their lower course. I find he 
has crossed my track at Expedition Range, but further to the 
westward than I did; his Mudge-kye is the most distant of my 
Christmas Range, his Mantuan Downs are my Albimi Downs; 
his Nogoa is my Comet River, though I did not go so far up as 
to see the junction of the Salvator and the Claude; and I am 
afraid that as his Belyando turns out to be the Cape, his Victoria 
will turn out to be the Clarke, the largest tributary of the Burdekin 
from the westward. A dray road will he found practicable in the 
dry season from Mitchell’s track along the Balonne and the Con- 
damine (which is one of its principal heads), to Darling Downs. 
Should stations be formed on the heads of these various creeks, 
the respective roads will have to follow down the creek, and 
join the main road along the Balonne, which will be rendered 
extremely circuitous and difficult by numerous gullies, back-waters, 
and deep creeks, which join that river. The stations will become 
very isolated in consequence of those broad belts of scrubby 
country intervening between the creeks. The natives appear to 
form powerful tribes along the Balonne and its numerous lagoons, 
and would be dangerous enemies along the scrubs, which would 
allow them a secure retreat from their aggressions. Considering 
the long and precarious land-carriage, and the high rate of wages, 
particularly in such remote stations, I do not believe that sheep- 
farming will pay, even as far as the Maranoa, which at camp 
80 of Sir Thomas Mitchell would be very eligible for the pur- 
pose. But the road from that camp to Maitland will in all pro- 
bability be found shorter than that to Moreton Bay. The distance 
from Brisbane to the junction of the Colgoon with the Balonne 
would be, according to my estimate, 232 miles; but the dray-road 
will prove to be at least 440 miles. It is to be expected that 
creeks, corresponding to those from the northward will join the 
Balonne from the south and southeast, taking their rise in the 
Mackintyre Ranges. Should the country at Peak Range be 
settled upon, Sir Thomas Mitchell’s track will no doubt form the 
road on which stock will move up to the latitude of that locality.” — 
