‘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.  Having thus set the matter at rest in his own mind, he determined to re-trace his steps, and accordingly started back this morning and camped at night at the shallow lagoon, passed the day previous.  On the way they shot several ducks and a bustard.  These are very numerous on the plains, but wild and unapproachable, as they most frequently are in the north.  At each camp on his journey Mr. Jardine regularly marked a tree A.J. and the number of the Camp.

‘September’ 13.—­The party travelled back over Bauhinia Plains, and camped on the river, near camp 8 of the outward journey.  At night they went fishing, and got a number of fine perch, and a small spotted fish.  Distance 24 miles.

‘September’ 14.—­To-day the party saw blacks for the first time since leaving Carpentaria Downs.  They “rounded them up,” and had a parley, without hostility on either side, each being on the defensive, and observing the other.  They bore no distinctive character, or apparent difference to the Rockhampton tribes, and were armed with reed speers and wommerahs.  For the first time also they met with the ripe fruit of the Palinaria, the “Nonda” of Leichhardt.  The distance travelled was 27 miles, which brought them to the 7th camp on the outward journey.

‘September’ 15.—­Following up the course of the river, the 6th camp was reached in 26 miles, where the feed was so good that Mr. Jardine determined to halt for a day and recruit the horses.  On the way they again passed some natives who were fishing in a large lagoon, but shewed no hostility.  They had an opportunity of seeing their mode of spearing the fish, in which they used a long heavy four-pronged spear, barbed with kangaroo bones.