with small isolated or grouped hills of red sandstone,
but not forming any definite ranges; the even height
and peculiar table summits appear to indicate that
they are only small remaining portions of a sandstone
tableland or plain nearly the whole of which has been
removed, the strata, however, had a dip to the east
of one or two degrees. The vegetation on this
part of the country was reduced to a few stunted gum-trees,
hakea bushes, and triodia, the whole extremely barren
in appearance. The remaining portion of the horizon
was one even straight line; not a hill or break of
any kind was visible, and, except the narrow line
of the creek, was barren and worthless in the extreme,
the red soil of the level portions of the surface
being partially clothed with triodia and a few small
trees, or rather bushes, rendered the long straight
ridges of fiery-red drifting sand more conspicuous.
The wind being strong, we observed the smoke of several
fires along the course of Sturt’s Creek, and
also one near Mount Mueller, to the north-east, indicating
the existence of natives in that direction, and doubtless
of water in that locality, as it was a day’s
journey from the creek. Our course was now north
340 degrees east, and on approaching the creek passed
through a patch of casuarina forest, which was remarkable,
as they are the only trees of this genus we had seen
on the coast since landing at the Victoria, though
abundant in all other parts of Australia. At 1.35
p.m. reached Sturt’s Creek and halted at our
camp of the 2nd March; there was a strong hot wind
from the east during the day.
12th March.
Resumed our route at 5.50 a.m. and steered north 20
degrees east till 8.0, then 40 degrees and 60 degrees
till 1.0 p.m., when we encamped at a shallow pool
of water near the creek, and about three miles above
camp 48, as the route only traversed the level flats
near the creek. Nothing worthy of further notice
was seen, the channel being split into small hollows,
some of which retained a little water. The grass
was much dried up and limited to the flat near the
creek, the more remote portions being covered with
triodia. The day was hot and nearly calm, but
at noon we were benefited by a few passing clouds,
and at 6.0 p.m. a dry thunderstorm cooled the air
from 100 degrees to 93 degrees, but the temperature
rose at 8.0 to 96 degrees.
13th March.
At 5.50 steered north 10 degrees east, crossing the
creek several times, and at 10.0 turned to the north-north-east
and north-east, crossing the sandstone hills, round
which the creek turns at a right angle, and at 12.10
p.m. camped on the creek near our track of the 29th
February. Nearly all the pools of water had dried
up, and the water at the camp had become brackish;
some of the pools, however, must be permanent, as there
were small fish in them. A great party of natives
appeared to be travelling up the creek, as fresh fires
are constantly seen to the north-east along its course.
A cool breeze from the west to north-east moderated
the heat, the temperature at 2 p.m. 103 degrees; passing
clouds from the east in the afternoon.