Its bends by crossing some
basaltic ridges with a flat summit; from which two almost parallel ranges
were seen to the westward, one near, and the other blue in the distance.
To the northward, two mountains appeared, from which the creek seemed to
take its principal rise. The creek wound between baked sandstone hills,
and was alternately enlarging into Nymphaea ponds, and running in a small
stream over a pebbly or sandy bed. Pandanus, drooping tea-trees,
Terminalias, Acacias, and Sarcocephalus gave it a rich green appearance.
The apple-gum and Eugenia, with ribbed scarlet fruit, grew on the flats.
Methorium Endl. was found, in leaf and size resembling the hazel-nut; it
had showy red and white blossoms. The clustered fig-tree was abundant
along the creek; but its ripe fruits were rare at this time of the year.
A small fish, a species of Gristes, about six inches long, was seen in
the Nymphaea ponds, but we could not induce it to bite.
At 9 o'clock P.M. we felt again a strong warm breeze from north by east;
but at 2 o'clock in the morning, a fine cool breeze, quite bracing and
refreshing, blew from the westward.
A flight of wild geese came down the creek, at about 2 o'clock in the
morning, which made me suppose that the creek was an outlet of some large
lagoons, like those in the valley of the Burdekin.
Nov. 3. - We continued our course up the creek, for nine or ten miles, to
lat. 14 degrees 2 minutes 46 seconds. Its stream still continued; but the
valley became narrower, and the Pandanus and drooping tea-trees rarer.
Ponds and water-holes extended along the foot of the ridges, in a
direction parallel to the creek. The broad-leaved Terminalia was in
blossom. Polyphragmon, which was first met with at the upper Lynd; Careya
arborea, Hakea arborescens, and Coniogeton arborescens, were observed.
White cockatoos were numerous, but shy. A pale green horse-fly annoyed us
as well as our horses.
The ridges were not very high, and all were composed of baked sandstone;
at the left side of the creek, near our camp, there was a chain of
conical hills.
As we were travelling along, a native suddenly emerged from the banks of
the creek, and, crossing our line of march, walked down to a Nymphaea
pond, where he seemed inclined to hide himself until we had passed. I
cooeed to him; at which he looked up, but seemed to be at a loss what to
do or say. I then dismounted, and made signs to show my friendly
disposition: then he began to call out, but, seeing that I motioned away
my companions with the horses and bullocks, as I moved towards him, and
that I held out presents to him, he became more assured of his safety,
and allowed me to come near and put some brass buttons into his hand.
