18 EXPEDITION FROM MORETON BAY [Nov. 8, 1858. 



no more praise than they really deserve ; and he expresses his opinion that 

 the present communication, and the observations upon which it is founded, 

 have deprived Mount Ararat of that superior altitude in the Eastern world 

 which has hitherto been attributed to it. But the fact is, that geographers, 

 particularly the venerable Humboldt, have not placed the Ararat of geographers 

 in this category. I have looked into the last volume of * Cosmos ' to-day, and 

 Humboldt records the height of Demavend at 19,715 feet, which is but 1785 feet 

 under the height attributed to it by our diplomatists. According to Humboldt, 

 Ararat is only 17,112 feet high. 



General Monteith, f.r.g.s. — Having passed three years at the foot of 

 Mount Ararat, I am well acquainted with that mountain. I used many 

 means to ascertain its elevation, and I made it 16,000 feet above the level of 

 the Araxes — I mean the Ararat of modern geographers, in the province of 

 Erivan. I was not so fortunate as to reach its summit — though 1 attempted 

 the ascent with several men — ^in consequence of the mountain being so 

 thoroughly capped with ice. With regard to Mount Demavend, I have seen 

 it, but did not attempt to ascend it — not from want of curiosity, but from 

 want of time. 1 had the opportunity of seeing the Demavend from the 

 summit of one of the range of mountains across the Caspian Sea. The dis- 

 tance from me was 248 miles, and I was at an elevation of 7000 feet at the 

 time. I hurried down to the village to get instruments, but unfortunately I 

 missed the opportunity of seeing the mountain again. — Near the village of 

 Khoor, at the foot of the mountains between Ardabet and the Caspian, 

 though I had a tent and guard for seven days, the atmosphere was never 

 again clear of mist. The Mount of Demavend appeared to me not to be 

 more than twice the height of the general range, and of the same I was on, 

 which by lx)iling water gave 7000 feet above the Caspian. Ararat, I may 

 say, in appearance at least, is higher than any mountain in Persia, or even the 

 Caucasus. One-third of the mountain is buried in perpetual snow and ice, so 

 as to reflect a strong light like glass when the sun shines on it j in this par- 

 ticular it differs from any other mountain I have seen. 



The second Paper read was : — 



2. Expedition from Moreton Bay in Search of Leichhardf and Party. By 

 Augustus Charles Gregory, Esq. (Gold Medallist, r.g.s.). 



8^A Dec. 1857. — Having received instructions from the Honourable 

 the Secretary for Land and Public Works to organize an expedition 

 for the purpose of searching for traces of Dr. Leichhardt and party, 

 who left New South Wales in 1848 with the intention of proceeding 

 overland to Western Australia, I proceeded to Moreton Bay (llth 

 Jan. 1858) with such portions of the equipment as had been prepared 

 in Sydney. 



On reaching Ipswich forty horses were purchased, and having 

 despatched the stores to Mr. Koyd's station, on the Dawson Eiver, 

 by drays, the party was collected at that place; but, owing to 

 unforeseen delays in the transport of the stores, the equipment and 

 organization of the expedition were not complete till the latter part 

 of March. 



