^°i^^] S.A.WHITE, Central Australian Expedition. 87 



Next morning, the 14th, we got an early start, and passed 

 over rough, stony tablelands, but even this country was covered 

 in a wealth of plant life all in full bloom. At 9.15 a.m. we crossed 

 the boundary line into the Northern Territory. Australian 

 Dotterels and Desert Chats were seen amongst the gibbers, on 

 the stony tableland country. 



We reached Charlotte Waters telegraph station at 11.30 a.m. 

 Here we ])icked uj) a consignment of stores, which the writer had 

 sent on by camels some time before. Letters were posted, 

 and telegrams despatched. After a change of horses, we went 

 on for another seven miles and camped on a box flat for lunch. 

 This flat was covered in high grass, and many botanical speci- 

 mens were collected here. A fresh team was harnessed up, and 

 we plunged into heavy sand, and by 3 p.m. a fresh team was 

 again in request. Late in the afternoon we came upon a drover's 

 camp. Messrs. A. Ross and Tapp were on their way from New- 

 castle Waters to the head of the line in charge of 2000 head of 

 cattle. We made Boggy Flat for camp that night, and not long 

 after sunset a male Bustard started his harsh, grinding call, 

 resembling a camel's cry. In the distance this went on for many 

 hours well into the night. The night was mild, 40 degrees, 

 although the day was very hot. Many birds were seen — Crested 

 Pigeons, Red-backed Kingfisher, Pipits and many others. Had 

 a good start the following morning, and with two teams reached 

 Green Waterhole, on the Finke River, at 1 1 .20 a.m. The geolo- 

 gists examined the country here, and we then moved on to 

 Yellow Cliff, which rises out of the Finke. This was one of the 

 objectives of the trip. Sir Edgeworth David described this as 

 "a stupendous glacial phenomenon" on a very grand scale, and 

 said, "Nothing was seen on the South Polar explorations in which 

 I took part on such a magnificent scale as that which presents 

 itself at Yellow Cliff: even the word 'stupendous' seems inade- 

 cjuate." 



In 1913 the writer experienced great heat (125 deg. in the 

 shade) at this spot^ and the country was in the grim grip of 

 drought, yet millions of years ago this very place was held fast 

 in thick-ribbed ice — a wonderful country indeed. Half a day 

 was spent here, and when the writer had made camp, etc., he 

 busied himself with bird observations within the bend of the 

 river, which was running a good stream. 



Cockatoo Parrots were very numerous, mostly young birds, 

 which had congregated in large flocks. Mrs. Morgan's Parrot, 

 Ground Cuckoo-Shrikes, Little Falcons, Kites, Whisding Eagles, 

 Shell Parrots, Cloncurry Honeyeaters, Tricoloured Chats, Yel- 

 low-throated Miners, Screech Owls, Boobook Owls, Night 

 Herons, Stone Plovers and Nightjars were also noted. That 

 night in the valley of the Finke was cold, the glass falling to 36 

 deg. F. 



Next morning we made a start for further north, and passed 

 Old Crown Point. We took photographs of the wonderful 

 Crown Point mountain. Crossing the Finke here, we stopped 



