12 
I secured several specimens for the Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M.D. We continued our course 
of about S.E for seven miles, across red spinifex sandridges and a few grassy and gum flats, to several large 
claypans, which the blackboy called “ Warroo.” I then altered our course to about S.S.E. At seven and a. 
half miles, across red spinifex sandridges and fine well-grassed gidea (myall) flats, we camped some hours 
after sunset. It has been raining slightly during the afternoon, and the weather looks very threatening now. 
Friday, 12th. — A little rain did fall during the night, just sufficient to cause discomfort. We managed 
to get a start this morning before 5 a.m., on a course of 150°, across high red sandridges covered with spinifex 
old a few low bushes and fine hard and well-grassed flats. At twenty and three-quarter miles we passed a 
claypan full of water ; and half a mile further we pulled up at Etabucka, a small spring of very 
pure water, amongst a clump of timber situated between tw r o high sandridges. The blackboy declared this 
spring to have no bottom ; the surface water is about ten feet long, six feet w'ide, and one foot deep. I can 
form no idea as to the quantity of stock it would water without a proper test. I found four axes and a 
tomahawk buried at this spring. We continued our journey on a bearing of 132° 15' for seven and three- 
quarter miles, across high spinifex sandridges and small grassy flats, to a Mitchell-grass and samphire plain, 
which is subject to inundation from the overflow of the Mulligan River and Sylvester Creek. Altered our 
course to about 104°. At two and a quarter miles we passed a point of low gypsum tableland; at four and 
a quarter miles we arrived at the eastern side of the plain and at the commencement of low spinifex sandridges 
and gidea flats ; at five and three-quarter miles we crossed a wide flooded samphire flat, which forms the 
channel of the Mulligan River ; and at six and three-quarter miles arrived at our old camp near Sandringham 
Station. It was about 9'30 p.m., and although all the dogs at the station turned out to welcome us after their 
fashion, no one else noticed our approach. 
Saturday, 13th. — Our camels are completely knocked up with yesterday’s stage, which was somewhat 
over forty miles ; we arranged our camp to-day. 
Sunday, 14th. — Obtained a few necessaries for the camp from the station and repaired the camels’ 
saddles, which, being only made of jute bagging, are constantly the worse for wear, and require a tremendous 
amount of patching. The sudden change on to good food and vegetables has brought on severe dysentery. 
Monday, 15th. — Repairing camel saddles and plotting up my plans, See. 
Tuesday, 16th. — Finished my plans roughly, and copied notes for diary, &c., and also made preparations 
for our final departure from Sandringham Station. 
Wednesday, 17th. — We started this morning about 7'30 a.m., on a course of 65°, which I altered to 102°. 
At three-quarters of a mile crossed a well-grassed flooded flat- — Mitchell grass, cotton and salt bush being 
abundant. At five and a half miles arrived at a large waterhole near the north point of a sandridge. The 
natives call this waterhole “ Mataro.” Altered our course to 80° for three and a half miles to red sandridge. 
1 followed a buggy track for part of this distance, but lost it before reaching the sandridge. The country now 
consists of alternate single cane-giass and spinifex sandridges and hard stony flats, well grassed with Mitchell 
and various other grasses, cotton-bush, and saltbush, and well timbered with gidea. Altered our course to 
2 30 for two and a half miles, along a stony flat, when, seeing no sign of the buggy track, we again changed 
our course to 147'" 30’ for fourteen and three-quarter miles, to large waterhole in a break of a sandridge. 
Camped at this waterhole, which the natives call “Brinda.” The weather is now again very hot. Observed 
for latitude, &c. The country passed over to-day is of the very best description. 
Thursday, 18th — An early start was made on a course of 111° 30’ for two and three-quarter miles, across- 
a Mitchell-grass stony plain, to Kangaroota Waterhole, which is also situated at the north point of a sandridge. 
Changed course to 105" for two and three-quarter miles; thence 99° 40’ for one and a half miles, and 124° 
for two and three-quarter miles, to the Greensmith Creek, which 1 followed upwards on a bearing of 161°' 
for two and a quarter miles As 1 did not, however, see any signs of a station, I turned back at one mile. 
Met a horseman, who informed me that the station was two and a half miles further up the creek ; returned and 
camped at the station. The weather is again fearfully hot; our camels’ feet are bleeding, and they are quite 
unable to travel during the heat of the day. I am afraid they will give in altogether if we have many stones 
to ti avel over. 
Friday, 19th.— I obtained some meat from this station, Palia, and then followed the creek doum four 
miles to the point where I first struck it. I then continued on a bearing of 124° for one mile to east side of 
ere- k. Altered course to 160° 30' for two and a half miles to a bend in the creek near a large waterhole 
called “ Cootara.” Changed course again to 174° 40', across a flooded plain; at four miles, top of Kanoota 
sandridge, from which a good view of the Greensmith Creek is obtained. The creek eventually runs into 
Lake Phillipi, a very large and permanent fresh water lake several miles to the south. We continued to 
travel on various bearings across red stony plains. At eight and a quarter miles we crossed a low stony 
range, and at thirteen and a quarter miles camped in a small clay creek near some sandridges. We avoided 
the stones as much as possible, yet the camels are all lame, and we had great trouble to make them travel at. 
all. 
Saturday, 20th. — It was very sultry this morning. Started before G a.m., and travelled in all directions,, 
sometimes north, then south, east, and west, following a wagon track which was to take us to the Herbert 
River. After travelling about thirteen and a half miles, across flooded gidea and gum flats, I arrived at Eyre’s 
Creek Police Barracks, a depot for the black troopers on the Herbert River. I had to wait nearly three hours 
before the men with the other camels turned up ; they had lost themselves. Crossed the Herbert River, and 
continued in an easterly direction across sandridges for five miles, and then across a flooded flat for five' and 
three-quarter miles to King’s Creek, where my camel threw himself down and refused to get up again; 
camped therefore on the east side of the creek and near a wire fence. We had a few drops of rain durum the- 
night. 
Sunday, 21st. — Our blankets and other things are saturated by the rain, and we therefore camped here 
to-day and dried them as soon as the rain ceased. The camels also require some rest; their feet are in a 
dreadful condition from crossing the last stony range ; one riding camel is quite unfit to travel, and I am 
afraid to push on faster, as I should then have to leave him behind. Walked to the Cluny Station in the 
afternoon. 
Monday, 22nd. — Started at 7 a.m.; at one mile passed Cluny or Narrowarry Station, wdicre we were 
delayed about an hour and a half ; we then followed the track which runs in an easterly direction around 
the points of several sandhills. At four miles passed a small waterhole, and at five miles, the track, after 
crossing a low' spinifex and cane-grass sandridge, takes a sharp turn to the S.E., about, running along a stony- 
flat between two sandridges. At thirteen and a half miles we arrived at an open plain, on which a few bunches 
of 
