‘January’ 7.—­At rather more than a mile from camp, two branches of a large deep creek, were crossed just above its junction.  It runs from W. by N., had a little water in it, and the usual fringe of dark green vine scrub, interspersed with Leichhardt trees.  A hill on the north bank covered with large sandstone boulders, marks the crossing-place of the party.  Numerous small water-courses similar to those of yesterday, were crossed to-day.  The country slightly improved but was of the same character, waterless but for the showers of rain.  I was strange to see the horses bogging leg deep during a thunder-storm, and in five minutes after unable to get a drink of water.  Large red funnel-shaped ant-hills were seen, in some instances as high as 18 to 20 feet.  The timber in addition to the usual varities comprised zamias, iron bark, acacia, pandanus, mimosa, sterculia [(Currijong’), grevillia, coral, (’Erythrina’), and Nonda (’Walrothia’) trees.  Scrub turkeys (’Talegalla Lathami’), wonga wongas, and Torres Straits pigeon were seen.  The party camped at the end of 15 miles in a shallow tea-tree gulley, with a little water from last night’s rain in its sandy bed, supplying themselves with drinking water from the rain, caught by the tents.  Course North.  (Camp LXIII.  Acacia.)

‘January’ 8.—­The first 15 miles travelled over to-day were good undulating forest country, timbered chiefly with box and applegum, and a few iron-barks, and intersected with numerous canal-like creeks, running north-west, but without water; the last three miles was wretchedly bad, being similar to the tea-tree country of the Staaten.  The whole country between the Archer and Staaten is without water, save immediately after rain, sufficiently heavy to set the creeks running.  The party camped on a small tea-tree “Gilgai,” or shallow water pan, and experienced another night of heavy rain with high wind.  Two more horses, Rasper and N’gress were found knocked up.  Distance 18 miles.  Course N. The latitude of the camp was ascertained to be 12 degrees 38 minutes 2 seconds. (Camp LXIV.  Bloodwood.)

‘January’ 9.—­The fact of high land being observed to the west of the course, and that the creeks all flowed eastward, induced the party to think that they were near on the eastern slope of the peninsula.  This idea, however, was dispelled on their reaching at the end of ten miles, a large river which was supposed to be the Coen.  It was running strongly W.N.W., and seemed distinctly to divide the good and bad country, that on the south side being richly grassed, open and lightly timbered, lucerne and other fine herbs occurring frequently, whilst on the north side it relapsed into the old barren tea-tree country of which so much had been traversed.  Considerable time was lost by the party in cutting a road for the cattle through the thick scrub that fringes its banks, a kind of work which was now becoming familiar.  The Coen is about sixty yards wide, sandy, and contains crocodiles.  The country on it is described as being of excellent quality for a cattle run.  The party camped on a tea-tree swamp with a few inches of water in it, 6 miles beyond the crossing place.  During the day wongas and Torres Strait pigeons were observed, and scrub turkeys frequented the river scrubs.  Distance 16 miles.  Course North. (Camp LXV.  Bloodwood.)