TO PORT ESSINGTON. 345 
and on the sandstone ranges; and the most luxuriant grass 
clothed not only the black soil of the basaltic plains, but the 
stiff flats and the sandy banks of the creeks and river. The 
supply of water was, however, not in proportion to the 
number or size of the channels ; and it was on the magnifi- 
cent downs of Peak Range that Dr. Leichardt and Mr. 
Calvert nearly perished for want of water. It was here that 
the party felt for the last time a hot wind, from the west and 
South-west, which direction points to that desert interior 
Which even the persevering boldness of Captain Sturt has 
not been able to conquer. Waterholes existed, however, in 
the upper part of the eastern creeks, and swampy lagoons 
seemed to become numerous down the Isaacks, which joins - 
the sea very probably near the Mackenzie, in Broad Sound. 
The Upper Suttor partakes of the character of the Isaacks, 
but as it was far more accessible from the head of the latter 
than from its own lower course, it has been placed in the 
second division of the journey, though it belongs to the 
~ System of the waters of the third. 
III. The Lower Suttor, and the Burdekin rivers, with 
their table land, 210—180 S. latitude, characterised by its 
Supply of running water, its primitive rocks, its limestone, - 
its numerous ranges, and its fine open well-grassed forest. —— 
The elevation on the upper course of these streams renders 
the climate much cooler than might be expected from its 
latitude; and besides that several large tributaries, as the 
Cape, the Clarke, the Perry, drain in all probability large 
tracts of available country ; if a settlement is to be established 
On the east coast it ought to be at the mouth of the - 2 
Burdekin, which is supposed to be at Cape Upstart, on the = 
Southern extremity of Halifax Bay. Should the entrance of 
the river be barred, as is the case with all the rivers of 
«ist coast south of Wide Bay, it must be remembered t 
the inner barrier, which extends from Cape York down 
| 's Islands, forms along the coast a channel of smooth 
. Water, which may be considered in the light of a river, the 
