February 4 1862.

Since the 19th ultimo, the date of my arrival at the depot from the expedition to the south-west, I have been in constant expectation of a boat from H.M.C.S.  Victoria.  Late this evening I was glad to welcome the arrival of Lieutenant Gascoyne.  The news he gave us of the death of Mr. Frost (who he told us had died by the accidental discharge of a gun) occasioned great regret.

February 5.

Having received an invitation from Lieutenant Gascoyne to accompany him to the Victoria I availed myself of it, and had a pleasant sail down the river and a short distance out to sea to where the vessel was stationed.  We arrived late in the evening and had the pleasure of meeting Captain Norman and the officers.

February 6.

Today I had the good fortune to get Lieutenant Woods to assist me with my work.  He made a beautiful tracing from the sketch I had made to show my route to the south-west.  The sketch was made solely by dead reckoning.  I wanted to take notes from Mr. Walker’s journal and chart of his route from Rockhampton, but as he had told Captain Norman that no one was to be allowed to do so, I was not permitted to make them.  Having agreed with Captain Norman to return to the depot tomorrow I was, having letters to write and preparations to make for the next expedition, in a continual bustle.

February 7.

I returned with Lieutenant Gascoyne to the Albert River depot.

February 8.

This was a busy day as we knew we were to abandon the depot in the evening.  By the assistance of Lieutenant Gascoyne and some of his men, with two boats, we pulled the horses across the river.  In the evening, as soon as Messrs. Campbell and Wilson had hurriedly finished a copy for Captain Norman of the notes I had made in my memorandum-book when on the expedition to the south-west, the Firefly hulk was abandoned.  Those of my party I could not take overland accompanied Lieutenant Gascoyne, Captain Norman having previously agreed to take them to their respective destinations, namely:  my late assistant commander, H.N.  Campbell, to Hobson’s Bay, Victoria; Mr. Allison, and the aboriginal trooper, Charlie, to Brisbane.  Mr. Bourne and I accompanied them in Lieutenant Gascoyne’s boat down the river to our camp, where we bade farewell.

February 9.

Today we were busily employed preparing for our expedition.

February 10.

As there were mangrove mudflats in the neighbourhood of our camp the mosquitoes were particularly troublesome; we hurriedly therefore made preparations for leaving it.  When we had packed up as many things as the horses could conveniently carry the blacks paid us a visit, and we gave them the remainder. 5.10 p.m. we started and came five and a quarter miles upon well-grassed plains, and encamped near a fine waterhole.  The water was slightly brackish, but not so much so as to render it undrinkable.  The plains we crossed were slightly wooded.  We came on the following courses:  5.20 p.m. half a mile south-east; 5.35 p.m. three-quarters of a mile east; 6 p.m. one mile east-south-east; 8 p.m. three miles south.  Distance five and a quarter miles.