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



level country is covered with worthless scrubs of melaleuca, and 

 triodia covers the more open country. Even along the course of the 

 Gilbert, the extent of available country is by no means great. 



57. Crossing from the western to the eastern waters, a marked 

 change was observed, after travelling over nearly 13° of longitude 

 in a country where the same geological and physical characters were 

 almost constant. The sandstones were completely superseded by 

 slates and primary rocks, climate and vegetation seemed to change 

 in the space of a few miles, and it was only where wide spread 

 plains of basaltic lava, with their peculiar vegetation, occurred, that 

 any semblance of the western country remained. 



58. Although large tracts of inferior country exist on the upper 

 portion of the Burdekin, yet there are many fine patches of country 

 well adapted for stock, while the never-failing supply of water in 

 its channel, the hilly and varying character of the district, by pro- 

 tecting it from the serious consequences which attend long droughts 

 in more level portions of Australia, will render it eventually one of 

 the important districts of the colony. 



59. South of the Burdekin we encountered the first brigalow 

 scrub, which formed a broad belt, widening as it receded from the 

 coast, and it separates the fine country just referred to, from the 

 valleys of the Mackenzie, and other tributaries of the FitzKoy 

 River. 



60. So large an extent of this latter district has already been 

 tendered for as stock runs, and reported upon by the Commissioner 

 of Crown Lands, that it would be useless for me to attempt a further 

 description, which would necessarily be imperfect. 



61. With reference to the capabilities for settlement, the portion 

 of Australia traversed by the expedition may be divided into three 

 sections, each with its distinct character, climate, and geographical 

 position, viz., the N.W. Coast, the Gulf of Carpentaria, and the 

 Eastern Coast. 



62. The first of these oifers considerable facilities, the Victoria 

 giving access to the interior ; the navigation is by no means diffi- 

 cult, if due precaution be observed. That the country is suited for 

 stock, is shown by the excellent condition of our horses and sheep, 

 which recovered rapidly from a state of extreme exhaustion, con- 

 sequent on the protracted sea voyage, while there is reason to believe 

 that large tracts of good country extend as far to the S.W. as the 

 EitzRoy, beyond which the desert appears to come down to the 

 coast. 



63. Considering its position within the tropic, it is well watered by 

 the rivers ; and though the climate is extremely hot during three 



