Nov. 8, 1858.] IN SEARCH OF LEICHHARDT AND PARTY. 23 



last year had somewhat refreshed the grass, it was scarcely possible 

 to find subsistence for the horses. Under existing circumstances, it 

 would have been certain destruction to attempt a north-west route 

 from this point ; and the only course that appeared open to us was 

 to follow down the main river to the junction of the Thompson 

 Eiver, and ascend that watercourse so as to intersect Leichhardt's 

 probable line of route, had he penetrated in that direction, favoured 

 by a better season. At the same time it was probable that, like 

 ourselves, he had been repulsed, and would then follow down the 

 river, and search for a more favourable point from which to com- 

 mence his north-west course, in order to round the desert interior on 

 its northern side (2^th April), and we therefore continued our search 

 dovni towards the Thompson River. 



The country was perfectly flat on both sides of the river, and 

 showed traces of tremendous floods. The soil near the river was 

 often deeply-cracked mud, water very scarce, and grass seldom seen. 

 The back country was covered with scrubs of dead acacia, the soil a 

 red sand or gravel ; and such was the unpromising appearance that 

 I began to fear our horses would soon fail for want of food and 

 water ; but having camped at a water-hole during Sunday {2nd May), 

 to rest the party, heavy rain commenced, and though the greater 

 portion of the water was absorbed by the dry soil, some of the 

 channels of the river filled and commenced to flow. This relieved 

 us from much difficulty as regarded the want of water, and enabled 

 us to seek for grass in positions which were otherwise inaccessible. 



3rd May. — Just as we were leaving our camp a party of seven 

 natives made their appearance, but, though they came up to us, and 

 talked much, I could get no iLseful information from them. As the 

 party moved on they followed us, and, thinking they were not 

 observed, made an attempt to throw a spear at one of the men ; but 

 Mr. C, Gregory wheeling his horse quickly and presenting a revolver 

 at the intending aggressors, they ran away and left us to pursue our 

 Journey in peace. 



The abundance of water was not vdthout its inoonvemenees, and 

 had the rain continued the party would have been annihilated, as 

 our camp was between the deep channels which intersected the 

 plain ; and in attempting to extricate ourselves from the plains 

 subject to inundation (4rth May), found ourselves so completely en- 

 tangled among the numerous deep channels and boggy gullies, in 

 isome of which the horses narrowly escaped suffocation in the soft 

 mud, that after havii^ forded one branch of the river, carrying the 

 whole equipment across on our own backs, constructing a bridge over 

 a; second for the transport of the stores, and dragging the horses 



