Nov. 8, 1858.] IN SEARCH OF LEICHHARDT AND PARTY. 21 



The bed of the Victoria was scarcely 10 yards wide, and perfectly 

 dry, so that it was only after a prolonged search along its course that 

 a small puddle of water was found in a hollow of the clay flat, and 

 near it, fortunately for our horses, a little grass growing in widely 

 scattered tufts. 



Being now on the line of route which Leichhardt had stated his 

 intention of following, the party was divided, so that both sides of 

 the river were examined in all probable positions in which his camps 

 might have been situated (19th April) ; but as the high floods appeared 

 to have inundated the country for nearly a mile on each bank last 

 year, all tracks of previous explorers were necessarily obliterated, 

 and it was only by marked trees, or the bones of cattle, that we could 

 hope to discover any trace. 



During the first two days* journey down the river only a few small 

 pools of water were seen, and these not of a permanent character, 

 while the rich vegetation on the open downs, which had excited the 

 admiration of Sir T. Mitchell on his discovery of the country in a 

 favourable season, had wholly passed away, leaving little but a bare 

 surface of clay, the deep fissures in its surface giving evidence of 

 long-continued drought. 



■ 20th April— Jn latitude 24° 37', longitude 146° 13', a small sandy 

 creek, of equal size with the Victoria, joined from the east, and just 

 below the first permanent pool of water was found. There was a 

 slight improvement in the grass, but dense scrubs prevailed in the 

 back country, and even approached the river at intervals. 



21 st April. — While collecting the horses near this pool of water, I 

 detected a party of armed natives watching one of the stockmen, 

 evidently, from their position in the scrub and general movements, 

 inclined to hostilities, and I imagine that it was a knowledge that 

 we were aware of their intentions which prevented my being able 

 to establish any communication with them. I may here remark that 

 this party, which numbered about eight, were the first natives seen 

 during the journey. 



21st April— (Lat 24° 35', long. 146° 6'.) Continuing our route 

 along the river we discovered a '* Moreton Bay Ash " (Eucalyptus 

 sp.), about two feet diameter, marked with the letter L on the east 

 side, cut through the bark, about four feet from the ground, and 

 near it the stumps of some small trees which had been cut with a 

 sharp axe, also a deep notch cut in the side of a sloping tree, appa- 

 rently to support the ridge-pole of a tent, or for some similar purpose ; 

 all indicating that a camp had been established here by Leichhardt's 

 party. The tree was near the bank of a small reach of water, which 

 is noted on Sir T. Mitchell's map : this, together with its actual and 



