STATEN RIVER TO JARDINE RIVER 309 



place of grass, and the CAMP pitched on a low stringybark ridge, 

 WITHOUT WATER, for in this flat sandy country the ground absorbs 

 the rain as soon as it falls. The horses had to be watched again 

 to-night, for there was not a blade of grass to be got. A small 

 quantity of water was found in a creek about a mile and a half 

 ahead. Late in the evening the horses and water-bags were taken 

 to it, and sufficient water brought back for the use of the camp " 

 (CAMP 49). 



On 2\ih December the journey was continued 7 miles to 

 the north and Camp 50 was pitched on a ridge timbered with 

 bloodwood and stringybark. The grass was poor, but it was 

 better than none (CAMP 50). This camp cannot have been far 

 south of the EDWARD RIVER surveyed by Mr. J. T. Embley in 

 1885. That river runs westward between the COLEMAN and 

 HOLROYD RIVERS and very likely is to be connected with one or 

 other or both. 



2$th December. The RAIN which had set in the night before, 

 continued to fall heavily during the whole of Christmas Day. In 

 spite of this, 15 miles were gained to the north. At 7 miles, 

 was a creek in which some swamp mahogany trees (balourgah) 

 were growing. The creek at 15 miles was named " CHRISTMAS 

 CREEK." It ran in a rocky bottom and was well watered, and blue 

 grass was plentiful on its banks (CAMP 51). In the course of his 

 traverse in 1885, Mr. Embley sketched Balourgah and Christmas 

 Creeks as joining or rather parting a few miles above (east of) 

 the Brothers' line of march and as being probably mouths of the 

 Edward River to the south, while Christmas Creek is joined just 

 above the Brothers' crossing by a water-course which emanates 

 from the Holroyd River to the north. Thus mouths of the Edward 

 and Coleman Rivers appear to be confluent. 



26th December. The rain still continued but was not heavy 

 enough to prevent travelling, and a further stage was made to the 

 north and the night's camp was made on HERSEY CREEK, " a 

 splendid sheet of water in a rocky creek, 80 yards wide and very 

 long " (CAMP 52). According to the Brothers, the distance travelled 

 this day was 13 miles and according to Richardson 12 miles, 

 whereas their maps agree in showing the distance between 

 Christmas and Hersey Creeks to be not more than 5 miles. 

 Perhaps the name Hersey Creek should be applied to another 

 mouth of the Holroyd River, 9 miles north of that to which 

 the name is attached on modern maps. The matter could 

 probably be settled satisfactorily by some one on the spot who 

 might be able to identify the long water-hole among the rocks. 

 It is not in any case a matter of great importance, and the de facto 

 may be accepted as the de jure. 



On 2jth December, the party made a northing of 10 miles to 

 a small creek with water for the men and horses but not enough 



