Page:Papers of William Shakespeare Hall, 1861–1895.pdf/12

 of Australian flowers today; & called it the white Dragon or water tree (by account).

Camp 9. Lat 21° 28'. Long 116° 31'.

General remarks on country. Hills metamorphic sandstone frequently very rough & broken, with some Granite & Trap changed by heat.

The plains for miles covered with debris from hills, & producing little else but triodia, which the horses will not eat, except when in seed, no timber on either hills or plains; but some gum, cajeput trees, & other strange shrubs in the river bed; & many sorts of grass. Several lots of natives seen, & white ant hills all over the country 9 to 10 feet high.

JUNE 2.

Sunday. Camped for the day, excellent feed, the best since we left the bay.

JUNE 3.

13 miles E by S little till noon, after which the river led us to the northward of E. The country presenting the same aspect as previously. Camp 10 Lat 21° 27'.

JUNE 4.

9 miles course the same as before. The hills as rough as usual; & bed of river almost impassable, on account of narrowing; as some considerable branches were passed. The horses continually falling heavily & getting bogged, lost 5 shoes.

Today the river turned more to the S.E. in the afternoon.