186 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



seten, with Mr. Gregory, to the Albert River, Gulf of Carpentaria, 

 while the rest of the officers of the Expedition were despatched by 

 sea, in the 'Torn Tough/ the tender of the Expedition, calling at 

 Timor for supplies, and to leave letters. If this party did not meet 

 the vessel at the place appointed (mouth of the Albert), they were pre- 

 pared to push on eastwards for the settled districts, having with them 

 thirty -two horses and two foals; — the latter "for beef" in case of 

 emergency. 



They started on June 24 ; travelled up the Victoria to an east creek, 

 which was followed up in an east-north-east direction fifty or sixty 

 miles. Thence on a table-land, not lofty, reached the heads of streams 

 running first north, then north-west to the S. Alligator. Proceeded 

 till they attained a creek running to Roper River of Leichhardt ; then 

 parallel to the shores of the Gulf they traversed the heads of rivers 

 flowing into the Gulf,— the Wickham, etc. Travelled eighty miles from 

 the coast along the edge of a table-land, from which these rivers de- 

 scended. Such rivers were mostly dry, and their course through a 

 wretched, scrubby, sandy country. Water was most providentially 

 found during the route where they encamped at night. Vegetation, 

 miserable Acacia and Gum scrub, without grass of any kind. 



August 19. — Attained the edge of a tract marked on the map "un- 

 interrupted scrub and Tea-tree." Seeing a fine valley from a ridge to 

 the south, Mr. Gregory made a bold push for it, and most fortunately 

 struck the head of Nicholson River, which had a fine supply of water. 



came 



Brook, which was easily crossed with the horses, ninety miles from the 

 sea. Arrived on the appointed spot on Albert River, August 30th ; 

 but the ■ Tom Tough ' had not been ; but the ■ Torch,' a Sydney Go- 

 vernment steamer, had. Various indications of her visit were left, but 

 no letters were found. Stayed till December 3. Left letters buried, 

 addressed to Mr. Baines, and directed him, if he came, to wait till Oc- 

 tober, in case Mr. Gregory's party should find it necessary to return. 



September 3. — Started for the settled districts eastward, about 1200 

 miles : — the map of this is however wretchedly imperfect ; rivers con- 

 fused and misnamed. Attempted to cross from the Hinders River, 

 due east, to the Lynd. Driven back for want of water. The country 

 flat and dry. Compelled to go north to the " Gilbert," which has a 

 south-cast course parallel to the Lynd, nearly in lat. 18° S., and then ran 



