204 



THE NORTH-AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 



is the large number of sheep which have perished, owing to the long 

 detention on board the schooner. Out of 161 sheep embarked at Point 

 Pearce, only 44 reached the Camp with sufficient vitality to recover. 



1 8 . The early part of November was devoted to erecting a store, and 

 discharging cargo from the vessel preparatory to repairing her. 



19. This being the driest season of the year, the horses had not im- 

 proved sufficiently in condition to fit them for work; on the 15th I 

 therefore attempted to ascend the river in the gutta-percha boat, but 

 soon after passing Palmer Island, the dry banks became so extensive 

 that I relinquished the attempt, and returned to the Camp. The heat 

 of the sun having so completely destroyed the texture of the water- 

 proof canvas of which the boat was constructed, that it was scarcely 

 kept afloat towards the latter part of the return voyage. 



20. A few showers of rain having somewhat refreshed the grass, the 

 horses showed some improvement ; I therefore selected seven of the 

 strongest, and on the 24th proceeded up the Victoria with a party con- 

 sisting of Mr. H. Gregory, Mr. Wilson, and Dr. Mueller. 



21. Leaving the river a short distance below Steep Head, made a 

 detour to the southward, and, traversing a fine grassy country, which 

 extended to Beagle Valley, struck the river a few miles above the 

 highest point examined by Captain Stokes. 



22. Following the river upwards, passed to the east of Fitzroy 

 Range, and entered a deep gorge or ravine, bounded by cliffs of sand- 

 stone, from 50 to 300 feet high. Through this ravine the river 

 wound, forming deep reaches, sometimes several miles in length, and 

 only separated by narrow banks of shingle or rock. The average course 

 being nearly south, we soon reached lat. 16° S., when the valley sud- 

 denly expanded into a vast plain, covered with excellent grass. In 

 this plain were several isolated hills of trap or basaltic rock, the decom- 

 position of which adds much to the fertility of the soil. 



23. Having traced the Victoria to lat. 16° 26', long. 131° 10', we 

 returned to the Camp, which was reached on the 13th December. 



24. During our absence, such of the men as could be spared from 

 the general duties of the Camp, had been employed cutting timber for 

 strengthening the frame of the schooner. 



25. The wet season had now set in, and the surface of the country 

 became so soft that the horses could scarcely be collected together at 



the < imp. ° 



