Report of the Expedition, §•€. 
19 
After having passed the great plains of the Condaraine, between 
Coxen’s station, Jimba, and Russell’s station, we entered into a 
country which was alternately covered with fine open forest land, 
well grassed, and fit for cattle and horse breeding, and with long 
stretches of almost impassable bricklow scrub, so called from the 
bricklow (a species of acacia,) being one of its principal compo¬ 
nents. Open myall scrub was frequent, particularly along the 
Condamine. Though the bricklow scrubs were frequently of 
great length and breadth, I do not think that they ever form unin¬ 
terrupted lines of more than twenty or thirty miles, so that they 
always allow to be skirted. The frequency of these scrubs, how¬ 
ever, renders the establishment of stations unadvisable, as they 
not only allow a secure retreat to hostile black fellows, but to 
wild cattle. 
Following a narrow passage through a very extensive bricklow 
scrub, over a fiat country, I entered into a new system of waters, 
which at first turned to the north-north-west and north-west; but 
about seventy miles lower down, in latitude 25deg. 36min. turned 
to the north-east. I came on it in latitude 26deg. 4min. I 
called the principal river “ the Dawson.” Fine flats extend along 
its banks; and open ridges, with sound ground, are some miles 
oflf the river. Lower down, however, ranges appear, covered with 
scrub; and I suppose that the river, where it turns to the north¬ 
east, enters into rather a mountainous country, to work its way 
into the flats of the east coast. A large creek joins it in latitude 
25deg. 34min., which comes from the north-west; and I called 
it Palm-tree Creek, as fine corypha palms grew along its banks. 
It is accompanied by rich flats and fine ridges, and has a plentiful 
supply of water, in detached holes, as the Upper Dawson had. 
But these rich flats, which would delight the eye of the cattle 
breeders, are limited towards the ranges by thick bricklow scrub. 
This scrub covers the hills to the southward, between the creek 
and a long range, and is interrupted by plains, almost entirely 
grown over with vervain, which made me call them “ Vervain 
Plains,” whenever I met with them, even should this plant be less 
abundant. 
In following up the creek, I came again on a flat table land, 
c 2 
