.-^4 EXPEDITION FROM MORETON BAY [Nov. 8, 1858. 



through as we best could with ropes, after three days of severe toil 

 we had scarcely accomplished a direct distance of five miles (Qth 

 May). 



The dry weather which followed rapidly hardened the surface of 

 the clay plains, and I attempted to steer due west to the Thompson, 

 but found the country so destitute of feed, and covered with dense 

 acacia scrub, that we were compelled to return to the plains on the 

 bank of the river. 



Sth May. — The valley of the river trending west was somewhat 

 contracted, and did not exceed five or six miles in breadth; the 

 plains were firmer, salt-bush and grass more abundant, and the 

 horses recovered slightly from the effects of the barren country. 



Keeping back from the right bank of the main channel, we passed 

 some ridges of drift sand, and came on a fine lagoon nearly a mile in 

 length. Here we surprised a party of natives, who decamped on 

 our approach, leaving a net, fish, &c., which we of course left 

 untouched, and camped at a spot lower down the lagoon. 



^th May. — The next day, being Sunday, we remained at our 

 camp, and the party of natives, consisting of seven or eight men, 

 three or four women, and some children, approached us, and re- 

 mained the greater part of the day near the tents. They were very 

 anxious to enter the camp, but this was not permitted. 



By signs they expressed that they had observed we had not taken 

 away any of their property the evening before, when they ran away 

 and left their nets, and were therefore satisfied our intentions were 

 friendly ; but we could not procure any information relative to the 

 objects of our journey or the character of the country before us. 



At 4 P.M. they informed us they were going to sleep at the most 

 distant part of the lagoon, and would return next morning at sun- 

 rise, and then departed. 



9th May. — After dark, however, the natives were detected at- 

 tempting to crawl into the camp through the bushes, and though 

 we called to them in an unmistakeable tone to retire, they would 

 not withdraw. 



As the position they had taken up was such as to command our 

 camp, and render it unsafe in the event of an attack, it was necessary 

 to dislodge them. I therefore fired a pistol over them, but was 

 answered by a shout of derision, which no doubt would have been 

 soon followed by a shower of spears had we not compelled them to 

 retreat by a discharge of small shot directed into the scrub, after 

 which we were not further molested. 



10^/i May, — We were now approaching the junction of the 

 Thompson Kiver, but the country became worse as we advanced, 



