Vol. XXII 

 1922 



] WHITE, 7>/> to Cape York Fciiiiisiila. 103 



Another "Snap-shot." — Flush a female Tuniix, which Hew c)ff 

 behind me. Twist round in saddle and try a shot, hut miss. 

 Horse nearly jumped from under me. 



S'nuile-Jianded. — Saddle up and get pack horses loaded (have 

 to make two light packs of my stores, &c.) and start off on my 

 own. The confounded horses seemed to know that I was prac- 

 tically helj^less — gun in one hand, collecting rod in other, and no 

 Zijh'ip. The animals sjjread all over the place, and would not 

 stick to the track ; when I went to drive one lot along, others 

 would sto]) to feed; a couple of times they tried to bolt back 

 along the track. It was a i)erfect "nightmare" trij). 



./ Grateful Shade. — The bed of the creek is thickly gr(n\n with 

 a variety of trees — large Paper-barks, River Wattles, big Leich- 

 hardt "Plums," in full bloom, Wild "Cherries," and numerous 

 other heavily foliaged species. 



Cause and Effect.— 20/\2/2\ : Rainfall 70 points. Night- 

 deafening chorus of frogs. 



Jl'ayzi'ard Horse. — Would crawl along in front of the pack- 

 horses, prexent them from going ahead. Later he got what was 

 owing to him, and a bit extra, through bumping a nest of inch- 

 long vicious red hornets. These shifted him along at a great 

 pace for a hundred yards or so. 



./;/ Evening Plague. — The air is alive with flies, about the size 

 of the house species, w'hich drop a perfect shower of small mag- 

 gots, as they fly over our food. These, failing to land on a con- 

 genial spot, bend themselves into circle, straighten out instan- 

 taneously, and then flick about all over the place. Just as well 

 it's a bit dark. 



Short Rations. — Everyone in the district has been on short 

 rations for about a fortnight, owing to supply boat not running 

 to time. I had sufficient, but had to share it amongst those 

 who had least. 



Snakes! — Saw a beautiful and brilliant green snake with an 

 irregular white stripe down centre of the back and tiny irregular 

 spots of white on sides of body; it w^as about 5 feet long, and as 

 thick as one's wrist. It was in a tangle of lawyer vines a few 

 feet from the ground, and showed fight. 



31/3/22. — When riding through some fairly long grass, I was 

 right over a large snake — a Black-headed Python, I thought, 

 judging by its size. I could not see it plainly so I did not feel 

 anxious, as this snake is .sluggish and inoffensive. Passing over 

 it, I saw its head. (Expletive!) "A Brown Snake!" Did not 

 have gun or pistol, so called to Tommy (the black) to cut a 

 strong sapling. As I dismounted the snake started off. I 

 grabbed the sapling — and stopped it. Only about 9 feet long. 

 ]\Iore anon. 



Once Tommy let out an unearthly yell ; jammed the spurs into 

 his horse, which made a plunge some feet away. Thought a 



