‘January’ 17.—­The country traversed to-day was similar to that of yesterday, save that the ridges were higher and more stony.  Creeks were crossed at two and ten miles, running strongly westward, which appeared to be permanent.  Five miles further on, the party camped on a smaller one of the same character, having vine scrub and seaforthia palms on its banks, which was named Skardon’s Creek.  The horse Creamy died during the day, and Rocket through the night.  These losses reduced their horses from forty-two, with which they started, to fifteen of the culls.  They were in latitude 11 degrees 51 minutes 50 seconds, and by their dead reckoning, just about the track of Kennedy, supposing it to have been correctly charted, and therefore on the western slope of the dividing range.  The Torres Strait pigeon (’Carpophaga Luctuosa’) was again seen, and the bitcher plant(’Nepenthes Kennedya’) first noticed.  Two of the police saddles had to be left at this camp in consequence of the loss of the horses.  Distance 15 1/2 miles.  North. (Camp LXXI.)

‘January’ 18.—­The march to-day is described as being through the most abominable country that can well be imagined, being a continuation of loose white sandy ranges, thickly covered with low bush from three to eight feet in height, broom, fern, grass-tree (’Xanthoraea’), pandanus, and “five-corner” bushes, being thickly matted together with prickly vine.  Not a tree relieved the monotony of this waste, and what was worse, not a blade of grass was seen for miles.  Several deep creeks were crossed, all running strongly with clear pelluced water to W. and N.W.  The timber when it occured was bloodwood, stringy and iron-bark on the ridges, banksia, grevillia, and several kinds of tea-trees in the gullies, which were honey-combed and boggy.  Two new kinds of palm were seen.  The bush which seems to be what Kennedy alluded to as “heath,” could only be got through by leading a horse ahead, the others following slowly behind him, the cattle then following in their track.  A straight course was impossible, as all the boggy creeks and gullies had to be run up to their heads before they could be crossed.  A general course, however, was kept of N. by E. The packs were continually being knocked off the horses, occasioning great delay, so that only 12 miles were accomplished.  Some black perch were caught in one of the creeks, and scrub turkeys were seen.  Poor “Nell Gwynne’s” foal knocked up to-day, after having kept up bravely since the mare’s death.  Nothing remained therefore but to kill him.  The party being without meat, and it being impossible to stop in such a country to kill a beast, part of his flesh was dressed and carried on, which was a grateful addition to the food, and although two or three at first refused to eat of it, the craving of hunger soon made them forget their repugnance to horse-flesh.  At night the horses had to be short hobbled and a watch kept over them.  The weather kept fine, raising the hopes of the Leader of getting in before the rains.