494 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



by MULLIGAN. [It could not have been the Hann River. 

 R. L. J.] 



In 3i miles further we crossed a large deep sandy RIVER BED, 

 dried up to water-holes, with a few palms (Seaforthia) on its banks. 

 In 3 miles more we crossed another deep sandy RIVER BED 

 (not so large as the last), also dried up to water-holes. A few 

 palms and Leichhardt trees graced its banks. [Mulligan's WARNER 

 RIVER, the " STATION CREEK " of the modern 4-mile map. Here 

 I must have crossed Kennedy's track of 27th September, 1848. 

 -R. L. J.] 



In 4^ miles further we crossed to a large bare creek, with a 

 bottom of recent sandstone or cement, with large water-holes 

 connected by a narrow stream, running north-east. [The HANN 

 RIVER (named by MULLIGAN in 1875) below its junction with 

 Morehead River. R. L. J.] 



In another mile an isolated mountain (the first landmark seen 

 for some days) bore N. 39 E. It seemed about 15 miles distant. 

 [The " JANE TABLELAND," l 22 miles distant.] 



Two miles further on we entered on a wide OPEN PLAIN, 

 crab-holed in places. It must be a swamp in wet weather. It 

 appears to extend north-east and south-west for at least 10 miles. 

 On our course we crossed it in 5 miles, and found SALTWATER 

 CREEK at its further boundary. We camped on a chain of lagoons 

 on the right bank. The water was very muddy, having been recently 

 disturbed by the digging of lily-roots. (CAMP 32, Saltwater 

 Creek.) 



The NATIVES were BURNING THE GRASS all over the open plains. 

 We saw three gins at the water-holes, but they ran away. The 

 boys started a black fellow from his lair in the long grass by the 

 lagoon near our camp ; he ran away, leaving behind him a spear 

 and fishing-net. The spear was destroyed by the boys. [My 

 track from the Hann River to Saltwater Creek was also Kennedy's. 

 While he was crossing these same plains in October, 1848, the 

 natives were burning the grass. R. L. J.] 



The country passed over on this day's march was poorer than 

 that of the preceding day, the soil being more sandy ; still it was 

 fair second-class pastoral land. The timber was for the most part 

 bloodwood, with a few box and ironbark trees : on the low ground 

 pandanus, cabbage tree and tea tree. 



From the camp the mountain observed in the early part of 

 the day subtended an angle of 2 degrees from E. 26 N. to E. 

 24 N. (true). It has apparently a capping of sandstone. Its 

 position must be near the bottom of Princess Charlotte Bay 

 probably between the mouths of SALTWATER CREEK and the [com- 

 bined] KENNEDY [and NORMANBY. R. L. J.]. 



1 Kennedy saw the " Jane Tableland," 4th October, 1848. It must therefore have 

 been on the Coast Chart which he carried. It was named by King in 1821. R. L. J. 



