Jan. 12, 1857.] NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 257 



of the Gulf of Carpentaria, passing through its centre. The bar of 

 the Albert River not allowing the * Torch ' to pass, I proceeded in 

 her boats on the 2nd of August to ascend the river, and after a 

 minute search of six days, came to the conclusion that neither 

 Gregory, nor any of his party, nor the vessel in attendance on them, 

 had, as yet, arrived there. 



On arriving at the source of the river, 54 miles from the ship, we 

 all took a searching stroll to the " plains and lands of promise," 

 which di(^ not present to me that boundless luxuriance I was led to 

 expect, the whole country being parched and arid. The long grass 

 had been recently destroyed by fire ; the large gum and acacia trees, 

 except those overhanging the river, wore quite an autumnal aspect ; 

 the land was furrowed and torn away by the deluge of rains 

 during the N.W. monsoon ; huge trees were torn up by the roots, 

 depositing the finest of the soil in the river, and leaving on 

 the surface a few flattened porphyritic stones, with quantities of 

 small perfectly sound ironstone particles. Whether the fires which 

 destroy the grass, and eventually the trees, are accidental or 

 intentional, I cannot tell ; but I believe the natives frequently set 

 fire to the grass to seize their prey, such as kangaroos, snakes, &c. 

 In fine, I was not very favourably impressed with either the 

 importance of the stream or the richness of the country, although I 

 saw it under the most favourable circumstances, the winter and S.E. 

 trades. "What it must be in the summer, during the north-west 

 monsoon, during hot winds and changeable weather, I would hardly 

 venture to say; the thermometer in the shade was max. 72°, min. 

 6C°, in the sun 134° 5 ; the amount of ozone was 1 to 3. 



I placed notices on every conspicuous portion of the banks of the 

 river, to inform Mr. Gregory that he was not forgotten, and that we 

 were in search of him to give him a fresh supply of provisions and 

 ascertain his wants. 



We had but one interview with the natives. On descending the 

 river, in turning one of its bends, up started eighteen, whose num- 

 bers soon increased to twenty-eight. They were all armed with 

 spears, boomerangs, waddies, and shields, and were exceedingly 

 noisy and clamorous ; so much so that I expected every moment to 

 see a boomerang, which the chief or spokesman held in his hand, 

 whirled at us. I ordered two muskets to be held in readiness, in 

 case he should have temerity enough to throw it. They endea- 

 voured by the most exciting gestures to persuade us to land, but 

 this I would not permit, fearing a collision in their angry moments. 

 I, however, made signs to them to retire a short distance, except 

 the chief, when I would land and speak to him. This they did. 



