16th October.
Resumed our journey down the creek at 7.0 a.m., the general course
south-south-west; the country became so steep and rocky that at 8.0 we
left the valley and steered south, crossing several stony hills with
rocky ravines, which were so rugged that they were scarcely passable. At
11.0 sighted the Victoria River, about six miles below Kangaroo Point;
but, on attempting to descend the range, was intercepted by a deep valley
bounded by sandstone cliffs 50 to 100 feet high; following the valley to
the east and north-east in search of a break by which we could descend,
but without success. At 3.0 p.m. one of the horses was so completely
exhausted that he could proceed no farther; I therefore halted the party,
and was examining the cliff to ascertain the best place for lowering one
of the party by a rope into the valley for the purpose of procuring water
from the pool which was visible 300 feet below us, when I found a small
spring on the top of the cliff, at which we encamped. As soon as the
horses were unsaddled, Mr. H. Gregory and myself proceeded to examine the
valley to the east, but had not gone more than a mile when we observed a
column of smoke rise from the camp, followed by a sheet of flame, which
extended in a few seconds to the side of the adjacent hill. We therefore
returned to the camp to subdue the fire, and, if possible, save some of
the grass for the horses, which, with great difficulty, we succeeded in
doing; but though checked, the fire had extended many miles over the
country, and kept us busy all night. This fire originated for want of due
precaution in clearing the grass around the fire at the camp, though the
cook had been cautioned on the subject.
17th October.
At 5.0 a.m. left the camp with Mr. H. Gregory, and recommenced the search
for a practicable descent into the valley, and about two miles from the
camp found a break in the cliff. The hill was, however, so steep and
rocky that it was necessary to form a path for the horses, and while Mr.
H. Gregory returned, and was bringing up the party from the camp, I
employed myself in filling up chasms with stones and removing rocks from
the path, the steepness of the declivity greatly facilitating their
removal, as it required but little force to hurl rocks of several tons
weight into the valley below. Fortunately, we accomplished the descent
without any accident, and reached the base of the hill at 11.30 a.m.
Descending the creek, which occupied the lower part of the valley, for
about two miles, encamped at a small pool of water. I then rode down the
bank of the Victoria River, and ascertained that we were about six miles
below Kangaroo Point. Returning to the camp, procured fresh horses, and,
accompanied by Mr. H. Gregory, proceeded to Kangaroo Point, reaching the
spot appointed for leaving a notice of the movements of the party in the
schooner just as it fell dark, and though we found a small tree notched
with an axe, there was nothing to guide us in any further search, and we
therefore bivouacked.
18th October.
At daylight recommenced our search for some memorandum for our guidance
to the camp or vessel, but only found five or six small trees cut with an
iron axe, and the remains of a large fire; but if any memorandum had been
left, there was no mark left for our guidance in the search for it, and I
felt disappointed that my instructions had been so inefficiently carried
into effect. As it was doubtful whether the vessel had proceeded up the
river, I decided on continuing our route to some convenient spot for a
camp near Steep Head, and accordingly returned to the party. The southern
face of Sea Range is very abrupt and surmounted by a cliff of red
sandstone 50 to 100 feet high, the whole height of the hills about 500
feet, the range being the edge of an elevated tableland, the upper strata
being hard sandstone in horizontal beds which rest on soft shales which
appear to be somewhat inclined; but its surface was so covered by
fragments of the upper rocks that no satisfactory data was obtained. The
soil of the level land between the Victoria and the Sea Range is very
poor, and either sandy or covered with fragments of rock; there is no
water, and the grass is very coarse and blady. Many flights of cockatoos
came to drink at the pools near the camp, and about fifty were shot
during the day.