We left Camp 42 at 8.35 a.m. and travelled in the back country from the river.  I steered in the forenoon about two points off what I considered was the probable course of the river, and intended returning to it in the afternoon; unfortunately however I left the main party in the middle of the day and omitted to tell Mr. Bourne to change the course if necessary to reach the river.  When I overtook the party I altered the course and at 3.20 p.m. reached a creek that probably drains a great deal of back country.  As there was water in its channel we encamped.  The creek I named Stark Creek.  Before we reached here we crossed two other creeks; the first I named Salton Creek and other Isabella Creek.  The country we passed over from our last camp consists chiefly of high and wooded downs, and though the soil was rich the grass and saltbush, from the want of rain, was rather dry.  The country near the watercourses is wooded with myall, western-wood acacia, and Port Curtis sandalwood.  We came here in about the following courses:  10.27 south-south-west for four and three-quarter miles to Salton Creek; 11.5 a.m. south-south-west for one and three-quarter miles to Salton Creek; 11.30 a.m. south-south-east for one and a half miles to Isabella Creek; 12 a.m. south-south-east for one and a half miles; 12.35 a.m. east one mile; 12.50 a.m. south-east for one mile; 1.55 p.m. west-south-west for three miles; 3.30 a.m. south-south-west for three and a half miles to Stark Creek.  Distance today eighteen miles.

April 5.

We left camp this morning at 8.20 a.m.  The Camp 43 is situated on the right bank of Stark Creek.  We travelled in the first instance slightly to the westward of south with the view of reaching the river.  In a few miles we crossed a large watercourse at present dry but with extensive flood-marks and heaps of mussel-shells on its banks.  This creek I named Porteous Creek.  A few miles further in the same direction we crossed a small watercourse which apparently joins Porteous Creek.  The banks are wooded with myall.  Behind these belts of myall the country rises in gentle undulations, the soil is rich, almost without trees, and from the appearance of the grass it was evident there had been no rain for a long time.  In the afternoon we went north-westerly and by that course reached the river; then after following it down for a short distance we encamped.  The appearance of the grass we saw in the afternoon was fresher than that we had seen earlier in the day; and near the river, where the low ground had been flooded, the herbage was quite green.  Shortly after we encamped a middle-aged blackfellow, two youths, and two little boys paid us a visit; they were very friendly but we did not get any information from them.  From last camp we came here on the following courses:  9.20 south-west for two and a half miles; 10 south-west by west for one and three-quarter miles to Porteous Creek; 10.50 west-south-west for two and a quarter miles to a small creek; 11.30 west for one and three-quarter miles; 11.40 north for half a mile; 12.43 south-west for one and three-quarter miles; 2.23 west for five miles; 2.43 north-west for one mile; 3.23 west-north-west for two miles; 4.23 south-west for two and a half miles.  Distance twenty-one miles.