THE NORTH-AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 207 



and I am doubtful whether the horses could have performed the long 

 stages between the remaining watering-places had not the open cha- 

 racter of the country enabled us to travel at night and avoid the scorch- 

 ing rays of an intertropical sun. 



39. On the 11th of March, commenced retracing our steps up Sturt's 

 Creek, and on the 24th, having reached the head of the creek, struck 

 off to the north-east to avoid the waterless country traversed on the 

 outward route. In lat. 17° 42', long. 129° 58' crossed the dividing 

 ridge between the northern and southern waters, the elevation 1660 

 feet above the sea, and descending into a valley, came on a small dry 



creek trending north-west. This we followed for thirty miles, and 

 then steered east-north-east for fifty miles over a level grassy country, 

 destitute of water, and reached the depot Camp in the valley of Vic- 

 toria on the 28 th, found the party in good health, and the horses much 

 improved in condition. 



40. As the horses I had employed on the excursion into the interior 

 required a few days' rest, I selected six from those at the depot ; and 

 on the 2nd of April, accompanied by Mr. H. Gregory, Mr. Baines, and 

 John 3?ahy, proceeded to the eastward, to examine the country in that 

 direction. Traversing for sixty miles a splendid grassy country of 

 trap formation, well watered by numerous creeks, reached the eastern 

 boundary of the valley of the Victoria ; then, turning northwards, traced 

 the river downwards to lat. 16° 26', and connected this route with that 

 in December 1855. Keturning to the depot by a more direct route, 

 reached that Camp on the 17th. 



41. On the 21st I broke up the depot Camp and proceeded towards 

 the lower part of the Victoria River, examining such portions of the 

 right as had not previously been traversed, in order to ascertain if any 

 considerable tributaries joined from the eastward ; and on the 9th of 

 May reached the main Camp. 



42. The party at the main Camp were all in good health, except 

 Henry Richards, who had lost the use of his right hand from falling 

 down among some sharp reeds, one of which had pierced his wrist. 

 The crew of the ' Tom Tough ' had not escaped so well ; the carpenter, 

 John Finlay, had died on the 22nd April, and three of the seamen had 

 been left on shore at the camp, that they might be under the imme- 

 diate medical care of Mr. Elsey, the schooner having been moved down 

 the river on the 2nd of April. 



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