3rd November.
Leaving the camp at 6.35 a.m., followed the river in a southerly
direction till 11.0, when it turned to the east, and we ascended a
sandstone hill; from the summit there was a fine view of the surrounding
country. To the east several distant peaks and hills were visible, the
most remarkable north 86 degrees east magnetic; to the south a low range
about thirty miles distant, with one large peaked hill, bounded the
horizon, the intervening country being very level and apparently covered
with scrub. To the west the valley was bounded by low hills of sandstone.
Although ironbark ridges are frequent, the general character of the
country is very scrubby, and this combined with the scarcity of water
will render it unsuitable for pastoral purposes. Descending the hill,
steered south-east, crossed a fine basaltic plain, and entered open
brigalow scrub, and at 2.0 p.m. again came on the Suttor River, which had
completely altered its character, now consisting of level grassy flats
with uncertain limits and intersected by long waterholes, which were
mostly dry; the general course from south-south-west; at 3.30 camped at a
fine waterhole. Two miles below the camp we surprised some blacks, who
decamped into the scrub. The country along the river consists of open
flats, thinly grassed and interspersed with patches of saltbush
(atriplex), and openly timbered with box and flooded-gum, while ironbark,
box and brigalow prevail over the rest of the country. The marks of iron
tomahawks are frequent where the blacks have been cutting honey or
opposums out of the hollow branches of the trees.
Latitude by a Pegasi 21 degrees 22 minutes 43 seconds; variation of
compass 6 degrees 50 minutes east.
4th November.
Steering south-west from 7.40 a.m. till 8.5, the river turned suddenly to
the south-east, and, changing our course to 170 degrees, traversed an
open brigalow scrub with several shallow channels winding through it in
an irregular manner. At 10.30 again came on the principal channel of the
river, which was running, and very muddy from the effect of recent rains
in the upper part of its course. The banks are very low, and the country
so level that the floods must frequently extend more than a mile back
into the scrub, which comes close to the bank on both sides. Box and
flooded-gum trees grow along the larger channels, and sometimes box flats
extend into the scrub. We now followed the river south-south-west,
through a level country covered with dense brigalow scrub, passing only
one low rocky hill, on the left bank, at 11.20. At 2.15 p.m. the river
diverged to the eastward, and the course was altered to south. The
country was more open, and at 3.0 encamped on one of the side channels of
the river in a fine grassy box flat.
Latitude by a Pegasi 21 degrees 38 minutes 49 seconds.
5th November.
Steering south-east for one mile, reached the main channel of the river,
which was followed south. Crossing to the right bank at 7.20 a.m., at
9.15 a dense brigalow scrub forced us south-west, and again came to the
river at 10.30. A south course was then followed till 1.0 p.m.; then
south-east till 4.0; then followed the river south-south-east till 4.50,
and camped on a large grassy flat. The whole of the country is very level
and covered with dense brigalow scrubs, except one sandy plain, on which
triodia was more abundant than grass. Having now passed the latitude of
Sir T. Mitchell's last camp on the Belyando, and thus connected his route
with that of Dr. Leichhardt, I considered it unnecessary to follow the
river further, and decided on taking a south-easterly route to Peak Downs
and the Mackenzie River.
Latitude by a Pegasi 21 degrees 57 minutes 45 seconds.
6th November.
At 6.30 a.m. crossed the Belyando, and steered south through brigalow
scrubs till 9.0; then entered a box and Moreton-Bay ash flat, in which
was a small gully with rainwater, near which a camp of blacks was
observed; but they ran into the scrub on our approach. At 9.30 changed
the course to south-east towards some rocky hills, which were reached at
11.0. From this we saw several distant ranges to the westward; but the
intervening twenty to forty miles was very flat. The route was now over
scrubby sandstone hills for three hours, and then descended into an open
flat, with box, bloodwood, and Moreton-Bay ash, triodia, and grass
growing on a sandy loam. At 3.30 p.m. camped at a pool of rainwater in a
small creek. In crossing the sandstone range we had a view of some high
peaks twenty to thirty miles distant to the south-south-east; but to the
east the country was quite level.
Latitude by a Pegasi 22 degrees 13 minutes 10 seconds.
7th November.
Started at 6.5 a.m., steering south-east; the whole country appeared
perfectly level with brigalow scrub and patches of open sandy country,
producing triodia and a little grass; the timber Moreton-Bay ash and box.
Towards noon the country was more open. At 1.30 p.m. passed a shallow
pool of rainwater at the edge of a scrub. About a mile further on
Melville's horse fell, and so bruised his rider that we had to return to
the water and camp.
Latitude by a Pegasi 22 degrees 23 minutes 36 seconds.