196 T^KR-iiK-RXi. Journeys of Dr. Neumayer in Victoria. [voY"^xxxiv 



storm came on, and made the descent extremely difficult. 

 From these experiences he came, to the conclusion that the 

 guide would be of httle value, so on his return to New Chum 

 Creek he arranged with two aboriginals to act as guides, but 

 Mr. Green, who had charge of the aboriginals in the district, 

 objected ; however, he at last gave his consent, and a start 

 was made along the Jordan track on the i8th. As no one 

 had ever been across the ranges on horseback it was somewhat 

 difficult to decide what route to take. The weather was very 

 wet, and " brought with it one advantage, however — it was 

 very easy to capture any number of L\Tc-birds, as they were 

 scarcely able to raise themselves from the ground." Much 

 time was spent in clearing a track, and on 19th started up the 

 range, which at first was very steep ; however, he reached an 

 old deserted " blacks' camp " (1,678 feet), where they rested, and 

 recommenced clearing a track in the afternoon, the leeches 

 being very troublesome on account of the recent rain. On 

 the 20th started early and by 10 a.m. had reached the summit 

 of the Dividing Range (i,g68 feet). (This ascent was doubtless 

 made somewhere in the vicinity of the now well-known Blacks' 

 Spur road, and the deserted blacks' camp is probably the 

 origin of the name given to the road.) Descended on a pretty 

 easy incline into the valley of the Acheron, the country 

 looking strikingly different from the southern slope of the 

 range. Scarcely any scrub, the timber consisting largely of 

 peppermint and myall. He then proceeded down the Acheron 

 valley, remarking that the Acheron is a fine stream, and should 

 be well adapted for rearing trout. The name, he says, is 

 derived from the native word " Agaroon." On 22nd he says : — 

 " With the exception of a wombat, which we killed last night, 

 we have had no meat for the last few days ; I was therefore 

 very agreeably surprised this morning at hearing tlic crowing 

 of some fowls close to us, which had apparently strayed from 

 the old missionary station, and it was not long before we had 

 a fine dish of rice and fowl before us." Thence he went on to 

 the Goulburn, striking it at Sloane's Punt (now Molesworth). 

 Then to Merton and across the Strathbogie Ranges to Longwood. 

 Along Svdney road to Benalla. Then up Holland's River 

 valley to Mansfield, and on to Jamieson. Passed through 

 Gaffney's Creek, and at mid-day reached the Germans (3,405 feet), 

 from wlience there was a fine view of the Gippsland mountains 

 and of Mount Buller, and thus had " an opportunity of giving 

 to this latter mount its proper position, for it yet appears on 

 the Government map as being on the southern side of the 

 Dividing Range, which is certainly wrong." Reached Wood's 

 Point about mid-day on 9th April — " Found everybody very 

 busy in fixing the new township ; new wood buildings springing 



