BY HON. A. NORTON. Ig 



a number not previously known to the explorers. 

 Leichhardt and other handsome trees were numerous. 



Unhappily, this pleasant condition did not long con- 

 tinue, for the country they pas«:ed through after getting 

 clear of the Archer and its anabranches, was comparatively 

 poor and waterless but for the showers of rain. Its sandy, 

 porous character is suggested by an extract from the 

 Journal : — " It was strange to see the horses bogging 

 leg-deep during a thunderstorm, and in five minutes after 

 unable to get a drink of water." They had seen many 

 anthills in this northern land, but here they were in some 

 instances as high as 18 or 20 feet. As they passed on, 

 keeping as nearly as possible a northerly direction, the 

 country was on the whole better, but at night on 8th 

 January, after, for three miles, passing through " wretchedly 

 bad country like that on the Staaten, they camped on a 

 ' gilgai,' and liad another night of heavy rain with high 

 wind." No w^onder tw^o more of their horses knocked up ! 

 But the difficulties they had so far experienced becam.e 

 more and more aggravated. They struck the Coen River, 

 running W.N.W., and had to cut a road for the cattle 

 through the thick scrub on either bank. This river is 

 described as being 60 yards wide, sandy, and the home of 

 crocodiles, the country on the north bank being very bad : 

 but worse troubles were ahead of them.. 



On 10th January the country was comparatively 

 sound for two miles, at which point a narrow boggy creek 

 running strongly through a tea -tree flat intercepted their 

 course. I will here quote the Journal : — " Athough care 

 and time were taken in the selection of a proper spot, when 

 the herd began to cross, the leading cattle, breaking through 

 the crust, sank to their hips in the boggy spew below', and 

 in a short time between 30 and 40 were stuck fast, the 

 remainder ploughing through with great difficulty. Four 

 beasts refused to face it altogether, and it was found 

 necessaiy, after wasting considerable time, and a deal of 

 horseflesh, to let them go. The greater part of the day 

 was consumed in dragging out the bogged cattle with 

 ropes," Five head had to be abandoned, their heads and 

 backs only being visible above the mud. " The horses 

 were more easily crossed, but their saddles, packs, and 

 loads had to be carried over by the party." They at once 



B — Royal Society. 



