2i8 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



them dry, but we were everywhere able to find water at intervals 

 of a few miles. We passed over some ironstone ridges and rocky 

 hills covered with Callitris, Cochlospermum and SUrcvlia" 



After clearing the gap and getting on the " Conglomerate " 

 tableland, Kennedy was on PACIFIC WATERS, and must have crossed 

 the heads (here no more than rivulets) of the river to which his 

 name was afterwards given, and which is popularly believed to 

 have been followed by him northward to Princess Charlotte Bay. 

 That this idea is erroneous is evident when we consider that his 

 course was nearly north, while the Kennedy River presently 

 turns sharply to the north-east. A few miles to the north would 

 take him out of the catchment area of the Kennedy. It should 

 therefore be understood that the KENNEDY RIVER was NAMED IN 

 HONOUR OF KENNEDY, but was not, as is supposed, traced by him 

 from its head to the ocean. (SEE MAP E.) 



On 22nd September, the explorers " crossed a creek running 

 eastward " and CAMPED. This was, in all probability, WANGOW 

 CREEK. The CAMP of 23^ September was on the same creek, at 

 a point where it ran temporarily south-west. My first camp on 

 my second Cape York Peninsula expedition must have been close 

 to this camp of Kennedy's. 



Kennedy crossed to the right bank of the creek next morning, 

 and as the creek was running south-west, he supposed it to be an 

 affluent of the Palmer (Carron, p. 193). He had not yet grasped 

 the idea that he was now at last on PRINCESS CHARLOTTE BAY 

 WATERS. By this time the heat had become intense, noonday 

 shade temperatures of 95 to 100 degrees Fahr. being recorded, 

 and this must have added greatly to the distress of the surviving 

 horses. 



The description of the country traversed (northward) on the 

 and 2$th is that which is typical of the sandstone tablelands 

 in these latitudes. 



On the morning of 2$tb September, three HORSES were MISSING, 

 and four men were left behind to search for them, while the rest of 

 the party moved on. At night, a CAMP was made on a large 

 water-hole. One of the four men came in, stating that the other 

 three had halted for the night. Carron, by Kennedy's instructions, 

 went back and led them (and presumably also the lost horses) to 

 the camp in the dark. The best KANGAROO DOG failed to reach 

 this camp, having been overpowered by the heat. He crawled 

 into the camp of the 28th, 30 miles on, but DIED next day. 



On 26th September, Kennedy's CAMP was fixed " in a sandy 

 creek where the country seemed to fall slightly to the north-east." 

 Kennedy was still under the impression that the waters he was 

 meeting with ran into the Mitchell, via the Palmer, and " still 

 hoped to find a river running into Princess Charlotte Bay." As 

 a matter of fact, he had been on such rivers for several days without 



