63 



Climate. 



The climate of the plateau was cool and i)racinj4. the nights 

 being sharp and cold. This doubtless accounts for the healthy- 

 appearance of the people who also gave evidence of greater activity 

 than the coastal races. The rainfall on the eastern portion of the 

 plateau was heavy and of almost daily occurrence, generally com- 

 mencing about four o'clock in the afternoon. As we advanced west 

 the rainfall became less frequent and torrential, only falling on an 

 average about three or four times a week. This might be accounted 

 for by the great distance we were from the sea. 



Coal. 



There is every probability of beds of good coal being found on 

 the borders of the great plateau, although I do not think that any 

 minerals of value will be found in the elevated region caused by the 

 upheaval of the coral beds. Coal has been found on the upper 

 waters of the Purari by the Mackay expedition, and it was found by 

 us both on the lower and upper waters of the Kikor river. On the 

 upper waters of the Kikor there is undoubtedly a very extensive field 

 of excellent coal. Unfortunately, the large number of specimens we 

 were bringing down were lost when the rafts capsized. We followed 

 down a creek for some days that brought us to the Kikor. Every- 

 where the beds were strewn with lumps of good-looking, bright, 

 hard coal, and for about 15 miles down the Kikor coal was seen in 

 almost every little creek and waterway, as well as on the banks of 

 the river. The attempt to develop this field by the Kikor waterway 

 is evidently impossible, as for 120 miles the river is one succession 

 of rapids, whirlpools, and gorges. There is no reason why this coal- 

 field should not extend further west, in fact a seam of coal was seen 

 on the western side of the river, and, if so, it might be worked from 

 the Strickland river, which it was estimated could not be more than 

 20 miles distant. 



The coal we found on the lower Kikor was one isolated lump 

 considerably weathered. However, as the creek was a very small 

 one, running northward for only a few miles, it is evident that the 

 seam from which it came could not be far off, and, when a magisterial 

 station is established on that river, a fuller investigation might be 

 made. If a large bed of good coal could be found here, I believe 

 barges might be brought up the river to within 6 or 7 miles of it, 

 although two very small rapids occur on the route. These run 

 swiftly when the river is high, but are barely noticeable when the 

 river is not in flood. 



Flora. 



The whole of the country traversed was covered by dense jungle 

 and scrub, and we literally had to cut our way through the 374 miles 

 traversed on foot, except where we occasionally met a native track 

 going in the desired direction. It was surprising that over rough 

 coral ranges and valleys, trees of considerable size and dense scrub 

 could find a roothold and sufficient nourishment. The roots spread 

 all over the surface of the rocks, constituting steps rnd ladders up 



