44 
Report of the Expedition 
a rocky basin, and into the channel, in which they flow to the 
westward to join the main branch of the South Alligator River. 
The table-land is covered by forests of stringy-bark, of malaleuca 
gum, and Banksia. Several grassy flats, with a white gum (simi¬ 
lar to the flooded gum) were observed. The drooping tea-tree 
grows in the swamps I mentioned to a great size; the grass is 
excellent in some of these swamps; but a sedge is prevailing 
which, it appeared to me, was not so much liked by our cattle 
and horses as the deep green colour of the young plant after late 
burnings made me first believe. 
It was very difficult to find a passage down the table-land. I 
succeeded, though the descent was very steep even for our horses 
and pack bullocks. This descent was about latitude 13 deg. 
22 min., longitude 132 deg. 50 min. 
I dare say that my passage over the table-land would have been 
much simplified by following the main branch of the Roper to its 
head, to pass over to Snowdrop’s Creek, and follow it down, not¬ 
withstanding its southing; for Snowdrop’s Creek, in all probabi¬ 
lity, joins the Flying Fox River, which I consider the main head 
of the South Alligator. This route would be practicable for cattle 
and horses, which might be driven over to the west side. I could 
certainly not recommend my line of march. It is very remarkable 
that pegmatite cropped out at the foot of the slope where we made 
our descent, whilst at the top, as well as all over the table-land, 
when we met the rock, it was found to be fritted sandstone. 
The south Alligator River is joined by a great number of creeks, 
which, as far as we could see, came down over a precipice, and 
must of course form as many water-falls during the rainy season. 
I followed the river to latitude 12 deg. 51 min. At the upper 
part of the valley the river passes between a high range and an 
isolated peak. At the foot of the former I observed pegmatite 
again. Further down, big lagoons, with an outlet into the river, 
are very frequent. Farther off the river, iron' sandstone ridges, 
covered with a scrubby forest, in which a small fan-leaved palm- 
tree became more and more frequent, extend between small 
creeks, which go down the river. 
