THE NORTH-AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 205 



26. The rugged character of the precipitous sandstone ranges which 

 intersect the country, and boggy condition of the plains, combined 

 with the fact that the greater part of the horses suited for draught had 

 been comprised in the number of those which had died, precluding the 

 employment of the drays, it became necessary to explore the country 

 with packhorses ; accordingly a party was organized, consisting of Mr. 

 H. Gregory, Mr. Baines, Dr. Mueller, Mr. Flood, Overseer Phibbs, 

 Bowman, Deans, and Fahy, thirty packhorses and six saddle-horses. 



27. With this party I started, on the 3rd January, 1856, to explore 

 the interior, south of the Victoria. 



28. The flooded state of the country near the Victoria compelled us 

 to traverse the rocky ranges to the westward of the river. The rugged 

 nature of the country, the intense heat of the atmosphere, loaded with 

 moisture, conjoined with the ordinary difficulties which attend explora- 

 tion in a new country, rendered our progress extremely slow. Many 

 of the horses were lamed, though shod before starting, and two had 

 died before we reached lat. 17°. 



29. T therefore selected a suitable spot for a depot, in lat. 17° 3', 

 long. 130° 35', and, on the 31st January, proceeded with Mr. H. Gre- 

 gory, Dr. Mueller, and Charles Deans, seven pack and four saddle 

 horses, leaving the remainder of the party in charge of Mr. Baines. 



30. Steering a southerly course, on the 7th of February we reached 

 the southernmost waters of the Victoria, in lat. 18° 12', long. 130° 39', 

 and crossed the dividing ridge between the waters flowing to the north- 

 west coast and those which fall into the interior; the elevation, by 

 barometrical measurement, being only 1300 feet above the level of the 

 sea. Continuing our route, we descended into a nearly level and de- 

 pressed country, and struck a small watercourse, trending to the south- 

 east. On its banks there was abundance of grass, and a little water 

 was found in the deeper portions of the channel. 



31. This creek was followed to lat. 18° 22', long. 130° 49', where it 

 was lost on a wide grassy plain, surrounded by level sandy country, 



covered with Triodia and stunted trees. 



32. On the 9th, lat. 18° 31', long. 130° 44' was attained; but 

 further progress was evidently impracticable, as we had reached a 

 sandy desert country, extending far to the south, in which neither 

 water nor grass existed— little or no rain having fallen during the wet 

 season-to the south of the dividing ridge. The elevation of this 

 point was 1000 feet' above the sea. 



