‘January’ 4.—­A heavy storm of rain and thunder having been experienced last night, the party made a short day’s stage, and camped early to enable them to dry their meat, saddlery, bags, etc., which had been thoroughly soaked.  The horses backs too, were getting sore from the use of wet saddles, and themselves tired.  The course was north, over stringy-bark and bloodwood ridges for 5 miles, to a large running creek named Micketeeboomulgeiai,* from the north-east, on which a crossing had to be cut; a mile-and-a-half further on, an ana-branch was crossed, and the party camped. (Camp LX.  Bloodwood.)

[footnote]*In the Wellington Dialect “place where the lightning struck.”

‘January’ 5.—­Still raining and wet to-day.  A table-land of open sandy ridges was traversed to a high point, the edge of which was reached in five miles on a course N. by E. On reaching this point a range was seen in front, extending east and west about 10 miles off, between which and the party, a fine valley extended, traversed by a large sandy river, which was named the Archer, in honor of Messrs. Archer, of Gracemere.  The river Archer flows from the north-east, through a valley of great richness and beauty, and considered by the explorers to be the best country for cattle seen north of Broadsound.  The banks of the river are fringed by a thick belt of vine-scrub, containing very many Leichhardt and other handsome trees and shrubs of great luxuriance and growth.  The valley is also described as being the first locality where any varities of flowers were seen, some were of great beauty, particularly a bulb which bears a large flower, shaped like a larkspur, of every tinge of red, from a delicate pink to a rich purple.  After crossing the Archer two ana-branches were passed, the route laying over loamy black and chocolate flats, and fine long sloping ridges, very thickly grassed, quite free from stones, well-watered, and despite the heavy rains that had fallen, perfectly sound.  The range seen from the table-land was low, and of much the same description.  Distance travelled 15 miles N. by E. (Camp LXI.  Applegum.)

‘January’ 6.—­The march to-day was very trying to the poor horses, being chiefly over rotten melon-hole country, of a yellow clayey soil, timbered with stunted bloodwood and pandanus, the rain pouring down all day.  At two miles from camp a large creek was crossed containing a little rain water, and subsequently nine or ten small deep waterless creeks, their beds too sandy to be retentive.  On one of these the wearied party camped at the end of 16 or 17 miles.  A range 8 or 9 miles to the East, was sighted during the day.  Notwithstanding the rain, barely sufficient water was found at the camp.  Distance 17 miles.  Course North. (Camp LXII.  Poplar gum.)