SECOND EXPEDITION 525 



camped beside on 25th September. [This appears, from the 

 4- mile map, to have been a branch, or anabranch, of WASJGOW 

 CREEK, and not the creek on which we camped on 25th September 

 (Camp 49). R. L. J.] 



Three miles further, through rather close brush, we crossed 

 a deep and narrow sandy creek of the third magnitude running 

 strongly to NE. Three and a half miles further, a somewhat 

 larger creek was passed. It was running very strongly, with 

 sandstone ledges, and long, canal-like reaches, and was difficult to 

 cross. 



The last two creeks were so obviously of the same character 

 as MULLIGAN'S HANK RIVER that I had no doubt of their identity. 

 The river had bifurcated between the present and the former 

 crossing. (See 25th September, 1879.) 



In 7 miles more we camped on a marshy bottom. (CAMP 2 : 

 Moreton Bay ash, J. 4D. 79.) 



The country traversed to-day was more undulating than that 

 of yesterday, or than the corresponding stage last trip. It was 

 also, on the whole, less sandy than yesterday's stage, and a few 

 stones were seen in the soil. The soil was derived from the 

 decomposition of a red ferruginous sandstone. 



December 5. We had hardly started when we got into broken, 

 stony, sandstone ridges, having a total ascent of about 500 feet 

 (reddish ferruginous sandstone) intersected by deep gullies. In 

 5 miles we reached the edge of Jessie's Tableland ' and had a view 

 ahead on our course. We could make out some low hills, with a 

 few pinnacles, apparently about the Coleman. 



We found it very puzzling to get down off the tableland, for 

 although we circled round for some distance, we always found a 

 cliff below us. We hit on a place at last where we could get down, 

 by leading the horses one by one. 



The sandstone rests on granite, large boulders of which dot 

 the valleys like gigantic ant-hills. 



On descending from the tableland we found ourselves in the 

 valley of one of the heads of Saltwater Creek. [This was an erroneous 

 surmise. The creek is one of the heads of the MOREHEAD RIVER. 

 R. L. J.] Our course lay down the valley for a mile and a half to 

 the NW. (true), and then over level granite country for 7 miles 

 more to a second-magnitude creek, with two dry channels, falling 

 to the north (the principal head of Saltwater Creek). [One of 

 the heads of the MOREHEAD. R. L. J.] After much search a little 

 water was found in a hole, which was deepened and made to serve 

 for the men and horses. (CAMP 3 : poplar gum, J. 5D 79. 

 Latitude, by observation of Canopus, 15 13' S.) 



In the valley below the tableland we passed the bower of a 



1 I had erroneously applied to the whole of the sandstone tableland the name 

 which Hann had given to a small isolated table east of his Camp 24. R. L. J. 



