Narrative Of The Overland Expedition Of The Messrs. Jardine, From Rockhampton To Cape York, Northern Queensland By Frank Jardine And Alexander Jardine
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The True Course Of The River Would Thus Be
About W. By N. Total Distance 23 Miles.
(Camp VIII.)
'September' 11. - This day's journey was over fine country. The
first course was N.W. for about 5 miles, to a large round shallow
lagoon, covered with quantities of wild fowl, and thence, following
the direction of the river into camp about 13 miles, over a
succession of large black soil plains covered with good grasses,
mixed herbs, and salt bush. The principal timber being bauhinia,
suggested the name of "Bauhinia Plains." Their width back from the
river extended to an average of six miles, when they were bounded by
low well-grassed iron-bark ridges. The river was broad and sandy,
running in two or three channels, and occasionally spreading into
long reaches. Large ana-branches, plentifully watered, left the main
channel running back from it from 1 to 3 miles. A great many fishing
weirs were observed in the channels of the river, from which it would
appear that the blacks live much, if not principally, on fish. They
were well and neatly constructed. (Camp IX.)
'September' 12. - Alexander Jardine, having now travelled 180 miles
from Carpentaria Downs, was convinced that the river he had traced
this distance could not be the Lynd of Leichhardt. The reasons which
forced this conclusion on him were three: - Firstly, the discription
of the country in no wise tallied. Secondly, the course of the river
differed. And thirdly, although he had travelled further to the west
than Leichhardt's junction of the Lynd and Mitchell, he had not even
been on Mitchell waters, the northern watershed he had been on, on
the 10th, being that of a small creek, doubling on itself, and
running into this river.
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