Australian Explorations. 85 
The dense scrub a had in 1861 formed an insurmountable barrier 
was penetrated after six weeks’ incessant labor, and the other side was 
reached in safety oa ‘without oss. 
n getting into clear peo again and taking dean they 
found themselves in lat. 16° 40’. Ten miles further on, or lat. 30’, 
they struck on a large r ni nore y a branch of the Riper River 
which they followed down until its confluence with the main stre 
known as the Roper River. They found that it took its source in some 
rocky and hilly land, through which they crossed several creeks running 
in a northeast direction, until they reached the table-land in lat. 13° 50/ 
and in long. 182° 30", They aaeee this rina te and came upon a 
due north. On this course they travelled for about 30 miles, and then 
struck due east for about 10 to 15 miles; after which due north to the 
seaport in Van Diemen Gulf, which was reached on the 24th of July, 
1862; and on the following day they planted their flag on the beac 
amid great cheering from the party. 
The point on the coast reached was a promontory marked on the 
Admiralty Charts as being 30 miles east of Cape Ho tham 
e river, which they ‘followed, ran about 40 miles parallel with a 
river marked on the map as the Adelaide, the difference in the longitude 
being only from 6 to 12 miles. Stuart passed through much good 
country, well fitted for agricultural and pastoral purposes. Leichhardt 
had previously seen this tract, and noticed it in terms not less favorable, 
Even in the scrub water seems to have been found in sufficient quanti- 
ties to satisfy the wants of all the party, iogainy the horses, obviating 
yr aulle Wen. for carrying a supply from camp to camp beyond New- 
"They were not nearly so fortunate on the return route, ice Mevr 
than two whole ray before they obtained a or rg ae € taly 
occasion on whic were inconvenienced 
Station Mr. Howitt’s party were among t to ; welooins him | 
after his laborious but pote: mission 
loration of the Interior of Australia tee Mr. LanpsporoveGn, 
—Mr Landsborough, who had poner remem vol. vii, p. 5) 
ag southwesterly for 300 ae from C 
country. This terminated in some picturesque hills, among witch it 
was thought that a sheep sess Beat would be well a rp 
the hills there was more wood and less pasture. 
crossed on the 19th, followed for some pa and finally left on ‘the 1 Ist 
March in lat. 20° 3, Near Mounts Little and Brown the river is deep, 
and seems perennial. ‘The country is probably thinly inhabited, as the 
