232 THE NORTH-AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 



North- Australian Expedition, from the period of leaving the Victoria, 

 on the 21st of June, to the 16th of December, 1856, when the Expe- 

 dition reached Brisbane. 



2. The exploration of the interior, beyond the sources of the Victoria 

 Eiver, having been carried to the full extent that the resources of the 

 Expedition would admit, I made preparations for carrying out that 

 part of the instructions relating to the exploration of the country be- 

 tween the Victoria and Albert Eivers. 



3. In making these arrangements, it was desirable to provide against 

 any contingencies which might prevent the land party obtaining sup- 

 plies from the ■ Tom Tough ' at the Albert Eiver, which I had appointed 

 as a rendezvous for the Expedition; and it thus became necessary to 

 reduce the land party to such a number that the horses now remaining 

 could convey a sufficient supply of provisions for the whole journey to 

 the out-stations in New South Wales, should we be compelled to do so, 

 without further assistance. 



4. I therefore organized a party of seven persons, consisting of my- 

 self, Mr. H. Gregory, Mr. Elsey, Dr. Mueller, C. Dean, E. Bowman, 

 and J. Melville. 



5. For the transport of this party and its equipment only thirty-four 

 horses remained out of the fifty originally embarked at Moreton Bay. 

 Of these, seven were appropriated as saddle-horses, and the remaining 

 twenty-seven for the conveyance of the stores, etc., which comprised 

 1060 lbs. flour, 872 lbs. pork, 350 lbs. sugar, 380 lbs. meat biscuit, 

 100 lbs. rice, 30 lbs. sago, 32 lbs. tea, 30 lbs. coffee, 2000 rounds of 

 ammunition, instruments, clothing, spare harness, etc., the whole weigh- 

 ing about two tons, exclusive of packages. 



6. Having instructed Mr. Baines to embark the remainder of the 

 exploring party and stores in the < Tom Tough,' and proceed to Coe- 

 pang for supplies of fresh provisions, and thence to the Albert Eiver, 

 to co-operate with the land party, I left the camp on the Victoria Eiver 

 on the 21st of June, 1856. 



7. Proceeding up the Victoria to the eastern bend, in lat. 15° 38', 

 left the river on the 26th of June, and followed up a large creek, com- 

 ing from the eastward. The country at first was very rocky, and in- 

 different quality, except on the immediate banks of the creek, till we 

 approached its source, when the sandstones were replaced by basaltic 



rocks, and the country changed to fine open grassy ridges, very thinly 

 wooded. 



