BY HON. A. NORTON. 5 



that stream. During the last few days they had passed 

 through better country, with plenty of water, and they 

 had obtained game of various kinds, but it was not until 

 14th September, when they were on their return journey, that 

 they saw any blacks. With these they were able to parley 

 without any displa}'- of hostility on either side ; the blacks 

 were armed with reed spears and wommerahs. This day 

 they also saw Leichhardt's " nonda " (pariiiarium) bearing 

 ripe fruit. On 15th September, they passed some natives 

 who were fishing ; but the meeting was amicable ; these 

 used long heavy four- pronged spears barbed with kangaroo 

 bones. The following day they camped in good feed for 

 their horses, and caught some perch and other fish, and in 

 the evening they hoped to add some 'possums to their 

 larder, but these were very scarce, and their hopes were 

 blighted. They, however, before they reached camp at 

 Carpentaria Downs, were fortunate enough to bag a bus- 

 tard, some native companions, and other game. They 

 found all well, and Alick employed himself in mapping 

 the country which he and Eulah had traversed ; he was 

 unable, however, .to persuade Richardson that they were 

 not on the Lynd, he trusting to the incorrect map received 

 from the Surveyor- General's Office ' rather than to that 

 which Alick Jardine had correctly plotted. This difference 

 of opinion led to some friction between the brothers and 

 the Surveyor. It is due to Mr. Richardson, however, 

 to state that he afterwards admitted he had been in error. 



Now, however, the arduous part of the journey was 

 about to begin, and the exploration of the Einasleigh 

 watershed gave some idea, though but a faint one, of the 

 difficulties that must be overcome before the brothers 

 could shake their father's hand ; for Mr. Jardine, senior, 

 and his youngest son, John, had gone to Port Albany 

 by water, and were at this time busily engaged in forming 

 the new settlement, the Imperial Government having .'-ent 

 out a detacliment of marines who were to be stationed 

 there, and assist in the work. 



As already shown, the party consisted of six whites 

 and four blacks (troopers). It had been calculated that 

 four months' provisions would be required, and in addition 

 to this loading, they had to take with them tools, ammu- 

 nition, and camp necessaries. The boys were armed with 



