Overland Expedition of The Messrs dine from Rockhampton to Cape York, Northern Queensland | Page 9

trusty of his black boys, "old Eulah," and one
pack-horse, and accompanied by Mr. Bode, who took advantage of the
opportunity to have a look at the country. As Mr. Bode had his own
black boy with him, the party comprised four, with two pack-horses,
carrying provision for three weeks. About the same time Mr.
Macdonald started with a party of three to find a road for his stock to
the Gulf, where he was about to form a station; the account of which
trip has been published bythat gentleman.
The stream on which Carpentaria Downs station is situated was
supposed to be the "Lynd" of Leichhardt and was so called and known;
but as this was found to be an error, and that it was a tributary of the
Gilbert, it will be distinguished by the name it subsequently received,
the Einasleih. Keeping the right bank of the river which was running
strongly two hundred yards wide, the party travelled six miles to a
small rocky bald hill, under which they passed on the north side; and
thence to a gap in a low range, through which the river forces its way.
Travelling down its bed for a quarter-of-a-mile, they crossed to its left

bank, on to a large level basaltic plain; but here the extent of the rocky
ground made the travelling so bad for the horses, although shod, that it
was impossible to proceed, and the river was therefore re-crossed. Five
miles more of rough travelling over broken stony ironbark ridges,
brought them to a second gorge, formed by two spurs of a range,
running down to the river banks on either side, where they camped,
having made about 15 miles on a general course of N.W. by N. To the
south of this gorge, and running parallel with the river, is a high range
of hills, which received the name of the Newcastle Range. (Camp I.)
'September' 4. -- Resuming their journey, the party passed through a
gap in the northern spur, described yesterday, about a quarter-of-a-mile
from the camp. From this gap a point of the range on the south side was
sighted, running into the river, and for this they steered. At 4 miles a
small lagoon was passed, 300 yards out from the river, and a
quarter-of-a-mile further on, a broad, shallow, sandy creek(then dry),
which was named "Pluto Creek." At 8 miles a small rugged hill was
passed on the left hand, and the point of the range steered for reached at
9. At 12 a large well-watered creek was crossed, and the party camped
at the end of 18 miles on a similar one. The general course N.N.W., and
lay chiefly over very stony ridges, close to the river banks. The timber
was chiefly box, iron-bark, and melaleuca, the latter growing in the
shallow bed, in which also large granite boulders frequently occurred.
Though shallow, it contained fine pools and reaches of water, in some
of which very fine fish were observed. Eighteen miles (Camp II.)
'September' 5. -- After crossing the creek, on which they had camped,
at its junction, the party followed down a narrow river flat for four
miles, to where a large sandy creek joins it from the north. The
steepness of its banks and freedom from fallen timber, suggested the
name of "Canal Creek" -- it is about 80 yards wide. Two miles further
down a small creek joins, and at 12 miles a high rocky hill was reached.
From this hill a bar of granite rock extends across the river to a similar
one on the south side. A fine view was obtained from its summit
showing them the course of the river. Up to this point the course had
been N.W. After passing through a gap, immediately under and on the
north of the rocky hill they were forced by the river into a northerly

course for two miles, at which they crossed a spur of the range running
into it, so rugged that they were obliged to lead their horses. Beyond
this they emerged on to a basaltic plain, timbered with box and
bloodwood, and so stony as to render the walking very severe for the
horses. The basalt continued for the rest of the day. At about 18 miles a
large creek was crossed, running into an ana-branch. The banks of the
river which border the basaltic plain are very high and steep on both
sides. Running the ana-branch down for four miles, the camp was
pitched, after a tedious and fatiguing day's march. (Camp III.)
'September' 6. -- The ana-branch camped on last night being found to
run parallel to the course of the river, received the name of Parallel
Creek. Its average width is about 150 yards, well watered, and full of