‘September’ 8.—­To-day the river was followed down over low broken stony ranges, having their crests covered with “garrawan” scrub for 5 miles, when the party was gratified by an agreable change in the features of the country.  Instead of the alternative of broken country, stony ridges, or basaltic plains they had toiled over for nearly 80 miles, they now emerged on to fine open well-grassed river flats, lightly timbered, and separated by small spurs of ridges running into them.  A chain of small lagoons was passed at 12 miles, teeming with black duck, teal, wood duck, and pigmy geese, whilst pigeons and other birds were frequent in the open timber, a sure indication of good country.  At 13 miles a small creek was crossed, and another at 18, and after having made a good stage of 25 miles the party again camped on the Einasleih.  At this point it had increased to a width of nearly a mile, the banks were low and sloping, and the bed shallow and dry.  It was still nevertheless, well watered, the stream, as is not unusual in many of our northern rivers, continuing to run under the surface of the sand, and requiring very slight digging or even scratching, to be got at.  The general course throughout the day was about N.W.1/2W. (Camp VI.)

‘September’ 9.—­The course down the river was resumed over similar country to that of yesterday.  Keeping at the back of some low table-topped hills, at 5 miles the party struck a fine clear deep lagoon, about two miles in from the river, of which it is the overflow.  A chain of small waterholes occurs at 12 miles, which were covered with ducks and other water-fowl, whilst immense flocks of a slate-colored pigeon were seen at intervals.  They are about the same size as the Bronzewing, and excessively wild.* The river, when again struck, had resumed running.  It was still sandy and full of the graceful weeping melaleuca in the bed, where traces of alligators were observed.  The country traversed throughout the day was good, but the small plains and flats were thought likely to be swampy in wet weather.  Another good stage of 26 miles was made, and the party again camped on the river.  The general course was due west. (Camp VII.)

[footnote] * ‘The Phaps Histrionica, or Harlequin Bronzewing.’

‘September’ 10.—­Taking his course from the map he carried, shewing the river running north-west, and depending on its correctness, Mr. Jardine bore to the north-west for 15 miles, travelling over sandy honey-combed rises, and low swampy plains, when he reached a watershed to the north, which he then supposed must be the head of Mitchell waters, finding himself misled by his map and that he had left the river altogether, he turned south by west and did not reach it before the end of 8 miles on that bearing, when the party camped on a small ana-branch.  The true course of the river would thus be about W. by N. Total distance 23 miles. (Camp VIII.)