Feb. 11, 1856.] GKEGOKY. WILSON. 33 



The water and forage for the stock on board the bark* having been consumed, 

 and the condition of the horses rendering it imperative that they should be 

 disembarked without delay^ I deemed it advisable to land the horses at Point 

 Pearce as the only means of saving the majority of them. 



The strength of the tide, however, rendered this a very tedious work, and it 

 was not till the morning of the 21st llixt they were all landed and removed to 

 a swamp near Providence Hill of Captain Stokes, where both water and gi'ass 

 are abundant. Only 42 horses are now at the camp, and few of them are at 

 present in a serviceable condition, having suffered greatly from the delays at 

 Moreton Bay and Port Patterson. The casualties have been as follows : — Two 

 horses died on the passage, five were lost in landing through exhaustion, and 

 one has escaped to the bush, but may perhaps be recovered. Of the sheep, only 

 six were lost to the time of reaching Point Pearce, since which nearly thirty 

 more have died from various causes, but principally by drinking salt water on 

 landing. 



It is now my intention to proceed by land with the horses, as soon as they 

 are capable of travelling, to the Victoria Eiver at Kangaroo Point, and to send 

 the sheep by the schooner to that spot as a rendezvous for the party ; but I do 

 not expect to be able to commence any distant explorations till the end of 

 October, as the stock will require a month's rest to recruit their strength. 



I have observed nothing to render it desirable to deviate from the proposed 

 direct route into the" interior of the country, though, from the general features 

 of the Victoria Eiver near the mouth, I have reason to expect that it will 

 prove but an insignificant stream after ascending beyond the tidal influence. 



Not having any cause for delaying the ' Monarch ' beyond this date, I have 

 informed the master of her to that effect, and have given certificates of the 

 performance of the charter-party. 



I have transmitted directly to the Secretary of State for the- Colonies, with 

 the exception of one set, all the botanical specimens collected by Dr. Miiller, 

 which, from their perishable nature, it is desirable should reach England as 

 soon as possible. 



Should the schooner move from the Victoria Eiver, in can-ying out the 

 objects of the Expedition, I intend to place conspicuous marks and leave some 

 records of intended movements of the Expedition on the Northern end of 

 Entrance Island in the Victoria Eiver. 



Up to the present time none of the Aborigines have been seen, though many 

 fires and other traces show them to be numerous on this part of the coast. I 

 am therefore unable- to ascertain whether their intentions are hostile or 

 otherwise. 



5. A Letter from Mr. J. Wilson, Geologist to the North Australian 



Expedition. 

 Communicated by Sir K. Murchison. 

 Board Ship ' Tom Tough,' Point Pearce, 23rd September, 1855. 

 You will feel pleased to know that we have, at length arrived at the Victoria, 

 and that our explorations will soon commence. We have had some little 

 mishaps, v/hich we are all willing enough to attribute to the captain of the 

 * Monarch.' .... We ran up during the night with perfect safety, and 

 anchored in Blunder Bay. The ' Monarch ' not having arrived, Mr. Gregory 

 took the opportunity to go ashore and look out a landing-place for the horses, 

 and for water, and we were successful in our search for both. I happened to be 

 the first to find the water. The discovery at that moment was fortunate, as one 

 of our men had an attack of sunstroke. Applications of the cold water restored 



* See p. 49 for particulars of the outfit of the Expedition. 



