Observers' Field Reports 111 



Early in July I proceeded to Melbourne, where Mr. Frederick Brown joined the party 

 as assistant observer. Proceeding to Brisbane, the work in Queensland was begun. Until 

 the end of August the party was engaged on the work in southwest Queensland, along the 

 railway lines and on a motor trip of 1 ,000 miles in the far west over rough country. Mr. 

 Brown, after gaining experience by occupj'ing 3 coastal stations, undertook the long journey 

 by automobile of over 2,000 miles along the western border of Queensland and into the 

 Northern Territory, as narrated in his own report. I meanwhile, with our magnetometer 

 No. 6 and the dip circle loaned bj' Melbourne Observatory, occupied a number of stations 

 in the central and coastal portions. During November, I proceeded north along the coast 

 to Townsville and along the Northern line to Cloncurry and then 100 miles north thereof, 

 securing G new stations and a reoccupation of our station at Townsville. At the end of 

 the month a station at Brisbane University was occupied and a 24-hour continuous set of 

 declination observations was made. I then traveled south in December and reoccupied 

 2 stations of the Magnetic Survey of Tasmania and also secured one newstation in Tasmania. 

 At the end of 1913 I was thus working in Tasmania and Mr. Brown was traveling south 

 to join me there. For an account of the latter's work during the period, November to 

 December, see his separate report. 



E. KiDSON, ON THE MAGNETIC WoRK DURING THE TRANSCONTINENTAL TrIP IN AuSTR.ALIA, 



May TO September 1912. 



Together with Mr. Cox, whom I had appointed as temporary assistant, I arrived at 

 Adelaide from Perth on May 16. As much information and advice as possible with regard 

 to the nature of the overland route and the outfit needed was gathered before we left Ade- 

 laide on May 22. Mr. W. Fisher, who, at my request, had been given leave, by the Sur- 

 veyor-General of South Australia, was appointed camel man. We arrived at Oodnadatta 

 on May 24, and were met by Mr. F. H. Marsh, from whom I had arranged to hire camels for 

 the expedition. Stores were purchased, the camels were inspected, a black boy was secured, 

 and the remaining gear was got together. Opportunity was taken to reoccupy the Oodna- 

 datta magnetic station. Though taking what we anticipated would be sufficient provisions, 

 with the exception of meat, for the whole journey to Pine Creek, we had permission, through 

 the courtesy of the Deputy Postmaster-General of South Australia, to purchase stores from 

 the various stations of the "Overland Telegraph;" we availed ourselves of this privilege on 

 several occasions later. All gear was carefully weighed, and distributed so as to make the 

 two pack-boxes of each pair, forming a camel load, of equal weight. One pair of boxes was 

 reserved for instruments and personal gear; two 20-gallon water kegs formed another load; 

 cooking-utensils and provisions for current use, another; while the remaining stores made 

 up 2 more. 



All being in readiness, on May 29 the 5 pack-camels were loaded and strung together ; 

 Mr. Cox and I bestrode our strange mounts; the black boy took the lead with a riding 

 camel noted for its even pace; and, in the presence of a large proportion of the inhabitants 

 of the township, we set out northward at 3'' 20" p. m. Our 8 camels were all well-seasoned 

 to the work and by nightfall we arrived at our first camp, 12 miles from Oodnadatta. Dur- 

 ing the first hundred miles of the journey we passed through a district which was suffering 

 from a severe and protracted drought, wide stretches of stony plain almost devoid of vege- 

 tation being occasionally met with. The barren areas were varied by sandy creek beds 

 lined with Eucalypti of various species, by patches of scrub, and by low-lying saltbush 

 plains. The scrub consisted generally of mulga, or wattle, for the most part edible by 

 camels. Saltbush is a very nourishing, edible shrub of great drought-resisting properties. 

 Occasionally isolated hills or low stony ridges varied the monotony of the plains. Each 

 morning at the first sign of fight the black boy set out to track the camels and bring them 

 in while Fisher cooked breakfast. Breakfast over and the camels arrived, all hands assisted 



