CHAPTER VI.
HEADS OF THE ISAACS--THE SUTTOR--FLINT-ROCK--INDICATIONS OF WATER--DINNER OF THE NATIVES APPROPRIATED BY US--EASTER SUNDAY--ALARM OF AN OLD WOMAN--NATIVES SPEAKING A LANGUAGE ENTIRELY UNKNOWN TO CHARLEY AND BROWN--A BARTER WITH THEM--MOUNT M'CONNEL.
I was detained at this place from the 1st to the 4th March, from a severe attack of lumbago, which I had brought on by incautiously and, perhaps, unnecessarily exposing myself to the weather, in my botanical and other pursuits.

On the 4th March.

I had sufficiently recovered to mount my horse and accompany my party to Roper's water-holes.

Basalt cropped out on the plains; the slight ridges of "devil-devil" land are covered with quartz pebbles, and the hills and bed of the river, are of sandstone formation.
A yellow, and a pink Hibiscus, were frequent along the river.
My calculations gave the longitude of 148 degrees 56 minutes for Skull Creek; my bearings however make it more to the westward; its latitude was supposed to be 21 degrees 42 minutes: the cloudy nights prevented my taking any observation.
March 5 .-- I sent Mr.Gilbert and Charley up the river, which, according to Mr.Roper's account, came through a narrow mountain gully, the passage of which was very much obstructed by tea-trees.

They passed the mountain gorge, and, in about eight miles north, came to the heads of the Isaacs, and to those of another system of waters, which collected in a creek that flowed considerably to the westward.