I. started late on the 24th Oct. and travelled over a country similar to that of our late stages.  About a mile up the river, a ledge of rocks crossed the bed, over which a considerable stream formed a small fall and rapids; above this was a fine sheet of water, overhung with shady tea-trees, Casuarinas, and Pandanus, which made this crossing place extremely lovely.  My grief at having lost an excellent horse which I had ridden for the greatest part of the journey, was increased by now knowing that one mile more travelling would have saved him to me.  The northern banks of the river were at first open:  but they soon became bounded either by isolated, or chains of, rocky hills.  These hills separated the valley of the river from an open well grassed, but extremely stony back country; from which creeks carried the water down to the river, through gaps and openings between the hills.  To the northward of this back country, other ranges ran parallel to those along the river, from northwest by west to south-east by east, and shorter ranges joined them occasionally.  The whole country was composed of sandstone and indurated clay, with very distinct stratification.  The layers of clay were white, grey, or slate-coloured; with many shining leaflets of mica.

The days were very hot; the east-breeze very strong during the afternoon, and particularly towards sunset; the nights were warm, clear, and without dew.

Some sheldrakes and wallabies were seen, and a bustard was shot by Charley:  large fish were splashing in the water.  I gathered the large vine-bean, with green blossoms, which had thick pods containing from one to five seeds.  Its hard covering, by roasting, became very brittle; and I pounded the cotyledons, and boiled them for several hours.  This softened them, and made a sort of porridge, which, at all events, was very satisfying.  Judging by the appearance of large stones which were frequently found, in the camps of the natives, still covered with the mealy particles of some seed which had been pounded upon them, it would seem that the natives used the same bean; but I could not ascertain how they were able to soften them.  It did not make good coffee; and, when boiled in an iron pot, the water became very dark.  Our latitude was 14 degrees 44 seconds.

Oct. 25.—­We travelled about seven miles northwest to lat. 14 degrees 39 minutes, following the river in its various windings over more than twelve miles.  The country was well grassed, and openly timbered with white gum, box, and leguminous Ironbark; but occasionally broken by deep gullies, which were fringed with the articulate-podded Acacia (Inga moniliformis), and the broad-leaved Terminalia.  Several ranges with rocky slopes approached or bounded the river; and three remarkable bluff hills, two on its right, and one on its left side, formed characteristic landmarks.  Their summits were surrounded by perpendicular precipices, from the foot of which steep rocky, but uniform slopes