These short excursions, and some exploratory trips made by MacPhee, east of Daly Waters, may be said to have concluded exploration between the line and the Queensland border.
In 1883, the South Australian Government despatched an expedition in charge of David Lindsay to complete the survey of Arnhem's Land.

Lindsay left the Katherine station, and proceeded to Blue Mud Bay.

On the way the party had a narrow escape of massacre at the hands of the blacks, who speared four horses, and made an attempt to surprise the camp of the whites.

Lindsay had trouble with his horses in the stony, broken tableland that had nearly baffled Leichhardt; and from one misfortune and another, lost a great number of them.

In fact, at one time, so rough was the country that he anticipated having to abandon his horses and make his way into the telegraph station on foot.