494 GREGORY'S NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. [June 22, 1857. 



attack us, but when in the act of throwing their spears were 

 checked by a discharge of small shot, and were quickly dispersed 

 with the loss of their leader. 



27. From the Leichhardt our course was nearly E., the country 

 consisting of low sandstone ridges, very thinly timbered, and nearly 

 destitute of grass. A few inconsiderable watercourses trended to 

 the N., in which direction extensive grassy plains appeared to exist. 

 Water was very scarce. 



28. The country improved again as the Flinders Eiver was ap- 

 proached, and where we crossed it, in latitude 18^ 8', longitude 140^ 

 50', the grassy plains extended nearly 20 miles back from the river 

 on both banks. 



29. Beyond this again we encountered a worthless country, per- 

 fectly level, covered with small trees and melaleuca scrubs. The 

 scarcity of water repulsed us several times in the attempt to pursue an 

 easterly course, and forced the party N. on the meridian of 141^ 30', 

 to latitude 17^ 15', when we reached a broad sandy river bed, which 

 is probably the Gilbert of Leichhardt. 



30. The approach of the rainy season, which would prevent us 

 from drying the flesh of our horses, should we require to replenish 

 our stock of provisions, and the general health of the party rendering 

 it desirable that fresh meat for a time be substituted for the salt 

 pork, which had suffered much from the heat of the climate, both in 

 quantity and quality, on the 18th we killed one of the horses, which 

 had become otherwise unserviceable. The meat was cut into thin 

 slices, and dried in the sun. The process occupied two days ; the 

 meat was tough, but by long stewing became very palatable, and 

 scarcely distinguishable from beef. 



31. The general course of the Gilbert was from the S.E., and this 

 enabled us to resume our course, as a sufficient supply of water 

 existed in its channel, though several miles often intervened between 

 the pools. The country along this river was extremely level : only 

 one ridge of hills was seen till we reached latitude 18^ 20', longitude 

 143° (27th September), though the bed of the river rose to about 

 700 feet above the sea level. Grassy flats extended along its banks, 

 from one to two miles wide ; beyond which the country was very 

 poor, with patches of melaleuca scrub. 



32. Low ranges of hills now rose abruptly from the plain, — the 

 prevailing rocks, slate, porphyry, gneiss, and granite. A decided 

 improvement was also observed in the vegetation. 



33. On the 5th October reached the head waters of the eastern 

 branch of the Gilbert, and as it was necessary to reconnoitre the 

 country before moving the party across the ranges, I proceeded 



