John And Charley Had Remained Behind To Shoot Flying-Foxes, And
They Returned At Sunset, With Twenty-Nine; Which Furnished Us With A Good
Breakfast And Dinner.
The night was clear, and a strong warm breeze set
in at a quarter to nine, from the N.
N.E. It was as full and steady as
those winds we had experienced at Peak Range, and at the Mackenzie.
Although we had seen the heads of only one branch of the Roper, I feel
convinced that this creek, which was no doubt joined by that at which we
encamped the day before, belonged equally to that river.
Nov. 2. - We travelled about eight miles and a half north 30 degrees west
along the creek, cutting however one of 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.
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