at last she quieted down on observing the fish-hook, and advanced a step or two and took it from me, evidently knowing the use of it.  I then gave her a line and another hook, and by signs explained to her that I would return in the direction the day following.  She wished me to understand something, holding up four of her fingers, but what she meant I could not guess.  I tried to make out from her how far the coast was, making motions as if paddling a canoe, but could not get any information; as soon as we were clear off she set to work to make an immense smoke to attract the notice of her people to give them the news.  This afternoon three of the party went over east-south-east about three-quarters of a mile to the river and caught about a dozen fish of small size and three different sorts, and a turtle about a foot long.  The river during the day has almost always been in sight from thirty six miles off till crossing the creek, when it was not more than one mile off.

Sunday, May 11.

Camp 57.  Could not have finer weather for travelling; abundance of feed, though on anything like high ground it has shed its seed and is now dry; plenty of good water as yet and fair feed round it generally.  Lagoons wooded round generally with rusty gum, box, and white gum; wind east-south-east and pleasant.  Started to clear some broken slopes ahead towards the river on bearing of 345 degrees.  At two miles over plains came to and crossed a creek running into the river about a mile off; at two and a quarter miles changed course to 9 degrees, over open country—­generally sloping to north-east from river with plenty of water on each side; at six and three-quarter miles struck the river at the falls.  Messenger overtook me to say that one of the bullocks we had been using for the pack could not be brought on so determined to kill and jerk him; and went west half a mile on a small creek with running water and where the feed was better and more green than on the river.  The bullock was got to camp about evening and slaughtered; plenty of guardfish, swordfish, and sharks under the falls, which are about fifty to sixty feet high with no current.  Deep water above and below, and water oozing through the fissures of the rock which appears a sort of burnt limestone and indifferent agate.  Found an eatable fruit on a handsome tree of the palm kind.

Monday, May 12.

Camp 58.  Wind south-south-west; not an ounce of fat upon the bullock; won’t take so long to jerk.  I started out today to examine the country ahead, taking with me Middleton and Poole.  At one mile over plain 5 degrees; changed course to 355 degrees; at five and a half miles struck the river and changed course to 285 degrees; at five-sixths of a mile struck and crossed creek from south to river; at two and five-sixths miles crossed smaller one from same direction; at a quarter of a mile further changed course to 340 degrees; at eleven and three-quarter miles over very bad travelling country, plains subject