Vol. XI. 



I9I2 



Far Novth-West Exploration-. 260 



their scramble up the sides of the ravines three of the horses fell and roiled 

 down, smashinj,^ the packs, but doing little damage to themselves. Subse- 

 quently, however, three of the horses died. On arrival at the summit of the 

 ranges the going was found to be comparatively easy. They struck the 

 head waters of the Pentecost Ri\cr, and from that point bore away in a 

 south-easterly direction, cutting the head waters of the King George River, 

 and crossing the table-land country at a height of 2,000 feet. They then 

 crossed the high ranges near the head waters of the Berkley River. The 

 average length of a day's stage was about 15 miles. They next crossed the 

 two branches of the Forrest River, 40 miles to the westward, just where they 

 had crossed on the outward journey. Owing to the heavy rains and the 

 flooded state of the river this part of the journey was undertaken with much 

 an.xiety for all concerned. The river was in flood, and was only crossed with 

 the greatest difficulty. The river was fully 300 yards wide, and the waters so 

 deep in places as to necessitate swimming. Even where the horses could 

 obtain a foothold, this, because of the pebbly nature of the bottom, gave but 

 poor fording ground. All, however, got through safely, and finally camped 

 on the first camp which they had left in July, thus completing the round trip. 



Dealing generally with the trip, Mr. Conigrave said that the country 

 was of all types. The ranges were generally poor and useless for stock 

 purposes, but the table-lands and the flats between the ranges were 

 all of the highest class of pastoral lands, and he would estimate the 

 acreage at between four millions and five millions. Some of the country, 

 notably that between Napier Broome Bay and Mt. Casuarina, was covered 

 with large timber. Pandanus palms were found wherever there was water. 

 The cabbage-tree palm, however, strangely enough, grew only at the summit 

 of the hills, in company with a smaller though very similar palm. Ferns 

 were found in abundance. One particularly magnificent fern, 12 feet in 

 height, had been found by a large creek which ran into the King Edward 

 River. None other of the same variety had been seen. A feature of the 

 rich flats was the growth of cabbage-gums, whose bright green foliage and 

 white trunks presented a most picturesque sight. The party had come into 

 touch with the natives along the Forrest and the Berkley Rivers. The only 

 show of hostility was on the Berkley River, but this came to nothing. The 

 natives were numerous, and were scattered about all over the country. 

 Scarcely any water-fowl were to be seen on the creeks or rivers, probably 

 because these were swarming with crocodiles, but on some of the salt- 

 marshes by the Pentecost and Forrest Rivers game of every description 

 abounded. Mr. Conigrave regretted that the destruction of the White 

 Cranes (Egrets) was being permitted. He understood that thousands of the 

 plumes of these birds were being sent away annually to Europe, notwith- 

 standing regulations prohibiting this wholesale slaughter. 



Mr. Conigrave was particularly grateful to the Government which had 

 helped the party, to the departments which had lent them so many 

 requisites, and to the settlers and Messrs. Connor, Doherty, and Durack, 

 of Wyndham, who had been so good to them in many ways. All the 

 records of the trip would be handed to the Government as arranged. 



R.A.O.U. — Publications Received. 



Abbott, C. G., Home Life of tlie Osprey. 



Agricultural Journal of New South Wales, The, April to Decem- 

 ber, 1911, and January and February, 1912. 



Annotationes Concilii Bibliographici, Vol. VI., igio. 

 Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institute, 1910. 

 Arbor and Bird Day : Supplement to Education Gazette. 



