Part 16 (1/2)

Still returning on our old track, at five miles I stopped to ascend a very remarkable hill which had forulation of this part of the country, to which had been given the na the party onward to wait for me at camp 22, I co more than I had calculated upon, as it occupied ained, however, it amply repaid the trouble, as from it I could discern almost every prost them theto froraphical allant commander of the troops, who has alar out explorations This part of the country I believe to be thean altitude of not less than 1000 feet above the valley of the Hardey, while Mount Bruce and the mountainous country to the eastward rose to a considerable height above its sumive not less than 4000 feet for the elevation of those ranges Having coreater speed than it took to cli, who had waited for me with a horse In less than an hour we overtook the rest of the party at Camp 22, when the additional horses at once drank up all the re, therefore, less than an hour, we hly fertile country of trap for rassy flat, on which no water could be found, although it is probable there is plenty in the vicinity, as emus and cockatoos were numerous; one of the former walked boldly up to the horses, and was fired at, but without effect

Camp 35

OPEN GRassY PLAINS Pass HAMERSLEY RANGE

4th July

Travelling at a rapid pace on an average north-east course for upwards of twenty rassed, and extending to the southern foot of the Hae of sandstone hills, covered with acacia bushes and triodia, extending for three or four ed on open plains, in which was found a deep channel, thirty yards wide, containing pools of rainwater retained in the clay The a the day could not be less than 200,000 acres; and although we had not tio in search for it, I have no doubt that abundance of water will be found in the deep gorges of the range skirting the plain

This tract of country is, I iar, as it is apparently well-irrigated during the su, while its limits to the ard are at present unknown, and most probably continues to skirt the hills for at least thirty or forty miles Halted at the waterholes about four e

Caht us to the head of the pass, which we entered by a ravine a little more to the northward than on our outward route, and by so doing saved a preliminary ascent of nearly 200 feet, and a sie through the range without experiencing the same difficulties we had formerly met with, and by 3 prassy country that forms the Chichester Downs At 6 pm encamped in an open flat without water

Camp 37

PROCEED TOWARDS THE COAST

6th July

Started at 730 am, and in an hour came upon a pool of water in one of the numerous channels into which the Fortescue is here divided, and at sevenpassed on the 11th June Froh grassy clay plains, thinly tiurees 53 minutes 4 seconds, about five miles north of a very ree Camp 38

7th July (Sunday) was kept as a day of rest

8th July

The horses strayed so far back on our tracks during Sunday night that by the tiht in it was too late to e, as ere now about to enter a new tract of country, by striking for the coast somewhere between Breaker Inlet and Depuch Island

As a knowledge of this part of the country would greatly assist us in starting on the second division of our exploration, I availed ulation e, and take observations for the variation of the needle, which I found to be about 1 degree east by the prismatic coave us some trouble to find them, so that we did not start until 1030 aht us to the foot of low hills of trap and sandstone, covered with triodia; good feed being, however, plentiful in the valleys, although now rather dry Tracing up a small tributary to the Fortescue, at sunset we halted on a srees 41fro the day Carees 47 minutes

10th July

For seven iving place to trap boulders, yielding a very rich soil, clothed with short green grass and ricultural purposes, although I have seen country of a si fine crops of sugar Sohed as , although rather bitter At noon the country dropped suddenly to the northward, and we descended a deep rocky ravine, in which we soon found water and grass Travelling now becaed and semi-columnar metamorphic sandstone cliffs hee rounded boulders of trap-rock filled the bed of the strea We had a rather indifferent carees 29west-north-west, distant seventy-five miles by account Camp 40

SHERLOCK RIVER

11th July

The streaht or ten miles down a valley from 200 to 300 feet in depth, where it is diverted to the eastward for about the sae of black volcanic hills of loose ragged rocks, totally devoid of vegetation

The channel receiving several tributaries, here becohty to 150 yards in width We halted for the night on a wide bed of bare sand and rocks, the only feed being in the channel of the river, to which was now given the name of Sherlock

Ca the river resumed a north-north-west course, and very soon led us into an open plain, rather sandy in character, the channel dividing into several branches separatingfro absorbed in the sandy bed; but a well-defined line of verdant trees served well to h the plain for , it was traced down to latitude 21 degrees 6 minutes 43 seconds, where we encamped on a shallow pool of brackish water--the only one seen during the day Several natives were found here, ees by means of nets constructed out of the leaf of the triodia neatly twisted and netted in the sa fro to the purpose to which it is applied It was very singular to observe the mode in which they induced the birds to enter the nets, or rather cages, prepared for theed bushes all round the small pools, with the exception of a few spaces five or six feet wide, fro so as to round; these little avenues lead away for several yards, and then terht sticks at the end The birds first alight on the ht at once, but run up the only opening, which leads thes and finally into the net, which is then drawn to by the hunter lying in wait under a few bushes In this way theyby the quantity of feathers around some of the waterholes Camp 42