miles into a mulga forest, or rather belts of it, and amongst which there was at three and a quarter miles a swamp with water; then over plains and a gentle rise, thinly interspersed with small lots of shrubs and thin belts of timber (light); at thirteen and a half miles to a watercourse, sufficient water for our use, although rather opaque, but we can easily put up with that once in a way.  I have made the journey short today in consequence of yesterday’s one being so long.  At the conclusion of today’s stage from my calculations it places me exactly on Gregory’s track, twenty miles east of where he crossed the Leichhardt River.  I hope in reality it may be so, but I am hardly sanguine enough to expect it, taking everything into consideration—­bad time-keeping watch and nothing to go by but the guess of your horse’s pace.

Tuesday, May 6.

Camp 53.  Dull morning, cloudy, wind south-south-west.  A vast number of galahs, corellas, macaws, cockatoo parrots, hawks, and crows here.  Started on bearing of 310 degrees over alternate plains and through belts of small timber.  At seven miles passed swampy country where some heavy belts of timber are to the right of course.  A great number of birds; water I am sure could be had if required; over alternate plains and strips of forest as before.  At seventeen and three-quarter miles came to a native camp near swamp (water).  Saw two of them in the distance some few miles further, but they scampered off and I did not go after them.  Over similar country, latterly more open and even.  At twenty-two and a half miles struck the Leichhardt River at what appears an island.  Plenty of deep water; banks too precipitous for the animals to water.  Followed down it bearing 330 degrees for two and a half miles and came to a bend of the river.  Good sound watering-place; shingly and sandy beach for about a mile.  Camped near the upper end of it.  Hodgkinson caught a small fish; large one seen but not caught.  It is a splendid river and from bank to bank is from 150 to 180 yards where we are encamped; but the water is here and for nearly a mile confined to a space of fifteen to twenty yards.  Here on the western side, and a little further in at a crossing-place on the eastern side where it is still running a nice little stream, stony bottom, and only a couple or three yards wide.

Wednesday, May 7.

Camp 54.  Very dull morning and sultry; every appearance of rain, sky perfectly overcast.  Started down bed of river on east side on bearing of 37 degrees for one and one-eighth miles; crossed; a quarter of a mile on bearing of 220 degrees; bearing 260 degrees for one mile, following along the western banks of river, where it is full of sand and timber, and fully 500 yards wide; bearing 282 degrees, still along the banks for half a mile; then bearing of 310 degrees as the river goes suddenly off north and eastward; one mile on last bearing through, since crossing river, pretty open forest land; on bearing of 352 degrees