A thunder-storm threatened on the 4th, but we had only some light showers:  the morning of the 5th was very hot, and the afternoon rainy.  Wind from north and north-east.  Nights clear.

April 6.—­We travelled about ten miles N. 35 degrees W. over a ridgy, openly timbered, stony and sandy country, and crossed several sandy creeks, in which a species of Melaleuca, and another of Tristania were growing.  No part of the country that we had yet seen, resembled the northern parts of New England so much as this.  The rock was almost exclusively granitic isolated blocks; detached heaps, and low ridges composed of it were frequently met with in the open forest.  We passed two small hillocks of milkwhite quartz; fragments of this rock, as well as of calcareous spar, were often observed scattered over the ground.  The river here made a large bend to the northward, still keeping parallel to Robey’s Range, or a spur of it; and, when it again turned to the westward, another fine high range was visible to the north by east and north-east of it; which I named “Porter’s Range,” in acknowledgment of the kindness of another of the contributors to my expedition.  Its latitude is about 20 degrees 14 minutes.

April 7.—­Travelled about ten miles N. 70 degrees W. The country became more level, more open, and better grassed; the gullies were farther apart, and headed generally in fine hollows.  Two large creeks joined the river from the westward; and a still larger one came from the northward, and which probably carries off the water from the country round a fine peak, and a long razorback mountain which we saw in that direction.  North-west of Porter’s Range, and between it and the razorback, were two small peaks.  The timber is of the same kind, but larger.  The poplar-gum was more frequent, and we always found patches of fine grass near it; even when all the surrounding Ironbark bark forest was burnt.  The large clustered fig-trees were not numerous along the river; we perhaps passed from three to five in the course of a day’s journey; though young ones, without fruit, were often seen.

Heavy clouds gathered during the afternoon of the 6th, and it rained throughout the night; the wind was from N. and N.E.  In the morning of the 7th some drops of rain fell, but the weather cleared up during the day; wind easterly.  The moon changed this day, and we experienced a heavy thunder-storm during the afternoon.

April 8.—­We travelled about nine miles N. 70 degrees W., to latitude 20 degrees 9 minutes 11 seconds.  The river made a bend to the southward, and then, at a sharp angle, turned again to the north-west.  At this angle a large creek joined it from the south; another instance of creeks joining larger channels, coming in a direction almost opposite to their course.  Two other creeks joined the Burdekin during this stage; one from the south-west, and another from the north.  The grass was particularly rich at these junctions.