22 EXPEDITION FROM MORETON BAY [Nov. 8, 1858. 



relative position as regards other features of the eotmtry, prove it 

 not to have been either one of Sir T. Mitchell's or Mr. Kennedy's 

 camps, as neither encamped within several miles of the spot, besides 

 which, the letter could not have been marked by either of them to 

 designate the number of the camp, as the former had long passed 

 his 50th camp, and the latter had not reached that number on the 

 outward route, and numbered his camps from the farthest point 

 attained on his return journey. 



Notwithstanding a careful search, no traces of stock could be 

 foimd. This is, however, easily accounted for, as the country had 

 been inundated last season, though the current had not been suffi- 

 ciently strong to remove some emu bones and mussel-shells which 

 lay round a native camping-place within a few yards of the spot. 



No other indications having been found, we continued the search 

 down the river, examining every likely spot for marked trees, but 

 without success. 



The general aspect of the country was extremely level, and even 

 the few distant ridges which were visible had but small elevation 

 above the plain, the highest apparently not exceeding 200 or 300 

 feet. Timber was wholly confined to the bank of the river, and 

 though open plains existed, acacia scrubs were the principal feature. 



Water became very scarce in the channels of the river, and we 

 were principally dependent on small puddles of rain-water from a 

 recent thunder-shower, but as we approached the northern bend 

 some fine reaches of water were passed. 



6th April. — In latitude 24° 2' we observed a small dry creek 

 joining from the N.E. This I traced upwards for a few miles ; but 

 as its relative position with regard to the adjacent country, as well 

 as the latitude, did not correspond vdth that of the Alice Eiver on 

 the chart, we continued our route ; finding, however, that the 

 general course of the river changed to S.W., I left the party at a 

 small lagoon and rode up the river again (2Sth April), making a 

 second search, more especially at the junction of the small dry creek, 

 which proved to be identical with the Alice Eiver, though more 

 than five miles to the south, as the Victoria Eiver never reaches the, 

 parallel of 24°. 



Our position was now becoming very critical, as a long continu^ 

 ance of drought had not only dried up all the water, except in the 

 deepest hollows in the channel of the main river, but the smaller 

 vegetation, and even the trees on the back country were annihilated, 

 rendering the country almost impracticable from the quantity of 

 fallen dead branches, and even in the bed of the river, where the 

 inundation derived from heavy rain near the sources of the river 



