two HUMAN SKELETONS which had been exposed among the branches
of fallen trees. I carried away the skulls and presented them to
Baron Maclay, whom I shortly afterwards met at Thursday Island.
After 2 miles of zigzagging, mainly to the east, we caught sight of TURTLE ISLAND, bearing E. 15 S.
In half a mile to ENE. we passed a SWAMP on the right. In another mile, to NE., we passed the remains of an old stockyard and hut an out-station on Mr. Jardine's run called " CHENIUM," about 10 miles from Somerset, as we afterwards learned. " Chenium " is situated on the right bank of the creek which we crossed in the morning.
Fully convinced that there must be a recognisable track from the old station to Somerset, we beat about for some time in search of it. After 3 miles of zigzag travelling, by cattle tracks of to-day's date, during which we made about half that distance to the north- east, we reached a swamp and ran to the north along the edge of it for half a mile, till we were blocked between the SWAMP and the SCRUB. We came back for half a mile to the south-west and half a mile to east-south-east till we were again hemmed in between the bog and the scrub. After some time, however, Crosbie found a track (some years old) leading to the south-west through the scrub. Following the track we emerged on a white ridge of BLOWN SAND and got away to the east for a quarter of a mile by the sand-hill, which wound round the south side of the swamp. The SCRUB, however, closed over the sand-hill. Crosbie started to clear a way, but desisted on finding that there was at least a mile of the scrub.
We CAME BACK for half a mile to the south and camped on the edge of a lagoon. (CAMP 73.)
After we had camped, beginning to comprehend that we might have to reach Somerset by the beach, I made an excursion to the south-east in the hope of finding a clear way, but in half a mile was stopped by the closing in of the SCRUB.
The day was fine and warm.
April 2. While the horses were being mustered in the morning, I went back to where I had left off yesterday afternoon and penetrated for a quarter of a mile further through HEATHY SCRUB on sand ridges, and saw from a tree similar scrub extending for half a mile further, but could not see the sea.
Crosbie followed the creek at " Chenium " up to the north for some distance. We resolved to make one more attempt to reach Somerset by this route.
Some of the horses had strayed, and we made a late start.
Two miles to the west of the camp we passed the OLD STATION on the left, and followed the creek up the cattle tracks which sometimes crossed and sometimes ran in the bed of the creek. In a mile to the north we were hemmed in by a SCRUB which had
