166 Land Magnetic Observations, 1914-20 



be made from that place. Leaving Kalgoorlie May 12, they were marched quickly to 

 Leonora, the terminus of the goldfield's railway, whither I repaired by train from Perth 

 with the greater part of the outfit. During preparations for the journey, opportunity 

 had been taken to reoccupy our stations at King's Park, Perth, and Coolgardie. 



The whole party, consisting, besides myself, of 3 white men, Messrs. Clarke, Cronin, 

 and Ryan, and an aboriginal called "Nipper," together with the 12 camels and all 

 stores, instruments, and gear, were assembled at Leonora on May 18. Two of the 

 white men acted as camel men, and the third as cook. Nipper, who had previously 

 traversed the stock-route three times with Mr. Canning while it was being opened up, 

 was especially useful in following the faint pad left by Mr. Canning's camels and for his 

 knowledge of the nature of the track, distances between waters, the quality of the latter, 

 and the exact location of feed for the camels. The stores and other gear to be carried 

 by the camels are packed in pairs of boxes, leather pack bags, or iron tanks, one pair 

 going to each camel (see view 1 of Plate 4). It is essential that the members of each 

 of the pairs should be of the same weight, so that the loads will balance well. Our im- 

 pedimenta were arranged with this object in view, one pair of boxes being reserved for 

 my instruments and personal gear, while the water tanks made another load. Three 

 light camels were used for riding. A set of magnetic observations having been com- 

 pleted, and, all being in readiness, we left Leonora on May 19 for Lawlers. 



The daily routine was as follows: the cook gets up at the break of dawn. Half 

 an hour later, every man has rolled his "swag" (blankets, etc.) and is ready for break- 

 fast. After this meal, the camel men go out for the camels, which are usually followed 

 by tracking, in aboriginal style, till they are seen or their bells heard. Having caught 

 and unhobbled them, the men string them together and make for camp by the most 

 direct route, which an experienced bushman is able to find, when to the ordinary indi- 

 vidual there seems to be not a single landmark. Arriving at camp, by dint of hissing 

 or calling "Hooshta," each camel is made to kneel down between the two packages 

 which form the evenly balanced halves of his load. In the meantime, the cook, Nipper, 

 and I have completed the packing for the day. All hands now proceed to put the sad- 

 dles on the camels' backs and then load up. The two halves of the load are lifted, one on 

 to each side of the saddle, and are then tied together across it, balancing on the saddle 

 in such a way as to pinch the camel as little as possible and to prevent the rocking of the 

 load and consequent chafing of the camel's back. Saddles and small articles of personal 

 gear, and lunches of rough sandwiches are put on the riding camels. When all are 

 ready, they are made to rise and are tied together in a string by light ropes with thinner 

 twine at each end. These "noselines," as they are called, pass from the wooden peg 

 in the nose of one camel to the tail of the one in front of him. In an emergency, the 

 twine can be snapped without hurting the camel's nose. The leading camel is now led 

 or ridden at a uniform pace of 2]/ 2 miles per hour which is maintained, bar stoppages 

 to adjust loads, till camp is reached in the evening. Immediately camp is reached, the 

 camels are compelled to kneel again, and the loads are lowered to the ground. 



On arriving at a magnetic station, I proceeded at once to put up the tent, with Nip- 

 per's help, to set up the instrument, and to secure as many observations as possible 

 before dark. The camels were allowed to cool off for about half an hour before their 

 saddles were removed, and with their fore feet close hobbled, they were turned out for 

 the night to feed. As night fell, we were usually having supper, after which observa- 

 tions and computations were continued till 9:30 or 10:00 p.m., when I turned in on my 

 folding cot. After leaving Lawlers, observations were secured at alternate camps and 

 computations completed between times. On Sundays a needed rest was given the 

 camels, and the opportunity was taken to wash clothes and make short hunting expe- 

 ditions. The distance traveled each day was fixed by the wells and waters and patches 



