4 THE JARDINES' EXPEDITION 



The party which it was decided should make a final 

 start from Carpentaria Downs, the then furthest north- 

 west station, and which belonged to Mr. J. G. Macdonald, 

 was composed as follows : — Frank Lascelles Jardine, aged 

 22 years, leader ; Alexander W. Jardine, aged 20 years, 

 second in command ; Ai'chibald J. Richardson, Govern- 

 ment Surveyor ; C. Scrutton, R. N. Binney, A. Cowderoy, 

 assistants : Eulah, Peter, Sambo, and Barney, black- 

 boys. 



On 14th May, 1864, Alick started with some of the 

 party and a number of horses from Rockhampton, inten- 

 ding to travel overland by easy stages to Port Denison ; 

 Frank, with Mr. Richardson, went so far by sea. About 

 the middle of July they moved forward ; from Reedy Lake 

 on the Burdekin, Alick, Richardson, Binney, and one of 

 the boys went on with the horses and equipment to Car- 

 pentaria Downs, while Frank, with Scrutton, Cowderoy, 

 and three of the blackboys went to Stenhouse's Station 

 on the River Clarke, to collect and take care of the cattle 

 which had been purchased. With these. 250 head of both 

 sexes, they arrived at Carpentaria Downs on 6th October, 

 and at once began to 2:>repare for their arduous journey. 



Alick, with his companions and the horses, had 

 reached this station on 30th August, and, needless to say, 

 had been cordially welcomed by Macdonald ; but the five 

 weeks' interval had not been an idle time for Alick, who, 

 after a few daj^s' rest, went off to explore the country 

 through which they hoped to find a ;^afe route for the 

 stock, taking with him Eulah, their most trusted blackboy. 

 Richardson and Binney were left at the camp. It had been 

 supposed that the stream on which Macdonald had formed 

 his station was Leichhardt's Lynd. It turned out to be 

 a tributary of the Gilbert River, and Alick named it tJie 

 Einasleigh ; following this down, they passed over ex- 

 ceedingly rough countr^^ but in places met with a good 

 supply of water, in which were very fine fish. They sighted 

 the Newcastle Range ; and named Pluto Creek ; Canal 

 Creek ; Parallel Creek ; and Warroul Creek. In four days 

 they travelled, as nearly as they could reckon, about 69 

 miles, almost all that distance being very stony, and 

 extremely rough. It was not until they had ridden 180 

 miles that they concluded the so-called Lynd was not 



