“We, however, succeeded in reaching latitude 23 degrees 47 minutes, when the absence of water and grass —­ the rain not having extended so far north, and the channels of the river separating into small gullies and spreading on to the wide plains —­ precluded our progressing further to the north or west; and the only chance of saving our horses was to return south as quickly as possible.  This was a most severe disappointment, as we had just reached that part of the country through which Leichhardt most probably travelled if the season was sufficiently wet to render it practicable.  Thus compelled to abandon the principal object of the expedition, only two courses remained open —­ either to return to the head of the Victoria (Barcoo) River and attempt a northern course by the valley of the Belyando, or to follow down the river and ascertain whether it flowed into Cooper’s Creek or the Darling.”

The latter alternative was chosen, and they proceeded to retrace their steps down the Thomson, and on reaching the junction of the Barcoo they continued south and west.  In fact, following Kennedy’s route, they soon found themselves involved in the same difficulties that had beset that explorer.  The river —­ now Cooper’s Creek —­ broke up into countless channels running through barren, fissured plains.  Toiling on through these, varied by an interlude of sandhills, Gregory at last reached a better-grassed land, where his famished horses regained a little strength.  He reached Sturt’s furthest point, and continued on to the point where Strzelecki’s Creek carried off some of the surplus flood waters, and finally lost the many channels amongst the sandhills and flooded plains.  He again struck Strzelecki’s Creek and traced it as he then thought, into Lake Torrens, but in reality into Lake Blanche, for the salt lake region had not then been properly delimited.  He reached Baker’s recently-formed station, eight miles beyond Mount Hopeless, and thence he went on to Adelaide.

18.2.  FRANK T. GREGORY.

[Illustration.  Frank T. Gregory.]

It was in Western Australia, in March, 1857, that Frank T. Gregory commenced his career as an independent explorer by taking advantage of a sudden heavy downpour of rain on the upper reaches of the Murchison River, which flooded the dry course of the lower portion where he was then engaged on survey work.  Gregory at once seized the opportunity thus afforded of examining the upper reaches of this river, from which former explorers had been driven back by the aridity of the country.  Accompanied by his assistant, S. Trigg, he proceeded up the river finding, thanks to the wet season that had preceded him, luxuriant grass and ample supplies of water.  In consequence, he had a more pleasing account of the country to bring back than the report based on the thirsty experiences of Austin.  So easy did he find the country, that only scarcity of provisions prevented him from pushing on to the long-sought-for Gascoyne River.  As it was, he returned after an absence of thirteen days, having completed what the Perth Gazette of that time justly described as “one of the most unassuming expeditions, yet important in its results.”