292 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



exceedingly rough country, their choice of evils often being be- 

 tween barren ridges and a river bed hemmed in by basaltic cliffs or 

 flowing over high bars of granite ; both horses and cattle suffered 

 severely and the cows began to calve. 



The BLACKS gave no actual trouble, although they had to be 

 carefully guarded against. About fifty of them, " painted and 

 fully armed," dogged the heels of the party on I5th and i6th 

 October from Cawana Swamp to opposite Barney's Nob. Another 

 " mob " was surprised on the i8th and decamped with their 

 weapons, which included spears and a large stone axe. On the 

 following day, near the lower junction of the anabranch named 

 PARALLEL CREEK, HUMAN REMAINS were seen roasting on a fire. 

 " Whether this was the body of an enemy cooked for food or of 

 a friend disposed of after the manner of their last rites must," says 

 Frank, " remain a mystery until the country and its denizens 

 become better known." On the 2 1st, two blacks were seen 

 spearing fish. It was judged advisable that the CATTLE AND the 

 majority of the HORSES should REST AND FEED at Camp 13 while the 

 brothers reconnoitred the proposed course. The valley had now 

 become more open and it was surmised that a way might be found 

 to the north, whereas the Einasleigh was now bearing them steadily 

 westward. It is now known that the EINASLEIGH falls into the right 

 bank of the GILBERT RIVER about 50 miles west of the Jardines' 

 Camp 13. To ONE OF THE MOUTHS OF THE GILBERT, ACCIDENT 

 INLET, JAN CARSTENSZOON, on the Dutch ship " Pera" gave the 

 name of the STATEN RIVER on 24th April, 1623. 



The following is a brief summary of the ITINERARY of the 

 expedition from Carpentaria Downs " Old Station " to the mouth 

 of the Etheridge River, as read in the light of modern maps : 



nth October, 1864. DOWN EINASLEIGH RIVER, NW. Byerley 

 says 20 miles, Richardson 19. Distance by map, 14 miles. (SEE 

 MAPS P AND K.) 



At 5 miles passed MOUNT EULAH (now called MOUNT HARRY), 

 CAMP No. i, a mile N. of junction of COPPERFIELD RIVER, near 

 EINASLEIGH COPPER MINE and EINASLEIGH STATION on the modern 

 RAILWAY from Chillagoe to the Etheridge. Richardson gives 

 LATITUDE of camp as 1 8 23' 59", which is 7 miles too far north. 



12th October. Shifted to CAMP 2, li miles down the EINAS- 

 LEIGH. (SEE MAP K.) 



\- i$th October. Travelled NNW. down the EINASLEIGH. Passed 

 the MOUNT ALDER GOLD DIGGINGS of the future. Passed lagoon 

 now known as " JARDINE'S LAGOON," CAMP 3, on a small dry creek 

 (LIGHTHOUSE CREEK ?). Distance travelled n miles (B.), 10 

 miles (R.) 



i^th October. Travelled 1 1 miles NNW. down the EINASLEIGH. 

 CAMP 4 on junction of CANAL CREEK with the river. The creek 

 is described as " deep, sandy and dry, 80 yards wide, coming from 



