44 EXPLORATION OF THE MURCHISON, LYONS, AND [Nov. 8, 1858. 



the same natives on the north bank, near a largo encampment of 

 women and children; the latter quickly hid themselves on our 

 approach, but the men assumed a threatening attitude, following us 

 for some distance with much clamour. As their numbers quickly 

 augmented, and they appeared determined to commence a fight, we 

 led them out on to an open plain, where, leaving the pack horses in 

 charge of two of the party, four of us suddenly faced about and 

 charged them at a gallop. This harmless manoeuvre had the desired 

 effect ; several of them having narrowly escaped being trodden 

 under foot by the horses, they were very quickly dispersed, and 

 made no farther attempt to molest us. We encamped this night 

 about 6 miles above Babbage Island. 



19th MaTj. — As our object was to explore as far to the northward 

 as circumstances would allow, we left the river on a north-east 

 course, but two hours' ride across an open plain, through which 

 several channels ran to the north-west, brought us to dry barren 

 scrubs, in which it appeared hopeless that we should find either 

 feed or water ; we accordingly altered our course to south-east, and 

 made the river again about sundown. 



20th to 23rc? May was occupied in tracing up the north bank of 

 the river in the hope of finding a tributary coming in from the 

 northward, but, with the exception of one small stream which drains 

 the western face of the Kennedy range, not a single tributary was 

 met with until we arrived at the Lyons Eiver, a distance of more 

 than 90 miles from Babbage Island. The country on the north 

 bank differs but little from that on the south, except that travelling 

 was somewhat easier. 



24:th May. — Our horses having had a rest, the previous day being 

 Sunday, we made an early start, and by noon halted on the Lyons 

 River a short distance above its confluence with the Gascoyne ; its 

 channel here was equal in magnitude and similar in appearance to 

 the main river : a small stream was still flowing through the wide 

 sandy bed, and gradually increased in volume for nearly 80 miles 

 up the river. Three miles to the north of our midday halt Mr. 

 Eoe and myself ascended a stee]3 sandstone peak, from which we 

 had a fine view of the Kennedy range, the nearest part of which 

 lay about G miles to the Avest, extending for nearly 30 miles to the 

 northward ; the eastern face presents an almost unbroken line of 

 nearly perpendicular sandstone, of probably 500 or 600 feet eleva- 

 tion. To the north a few remarkable peaks served as valuable 

 points to carry on our triangulation, which had been continued 

 almost uninterruptedly from Mount Hope, on the Murchison. 



To the east were several ranges of flat-topped hills, filling in the 



