88 S. A. WHITE, Central Australian Expedition. Rf §cT 



for lunch on the high ground, and going on in the afternoon 

 again crossed a big bend in the river, and struck it again at 

 Horseshoe Bend at 4 p.m. A large piece of the bank and many 

 trees had been carried away by recent floods; in fact, many of 

 my old landmarks of former trips have disappeared. Sir Edge- 

 worth was greatly interested in this weird place. It was a cold 

 night, the thermometer recording 34 deg. F. 



Next morning our horses had gone back, and it was late before 

 they turned up. This was owing to the bad nature of the fodder 

 in this locality. We left on our return journey at 11.40 a.m. 

 I'uUed uj) for lunch at 12.30. Geologists examined many places 

 during the afternoon. We went through Cunningham Gap at 

 4 p.m., and crossed the Finke and made camp at the foot of 

 Mount Crown Point. Black-throated Butcher Birds were call- 

 ing loudly here. The night was cold (36 deg. F.) We were 

 still in the valley of the Finke. 



Next morning, the geologists worked round the camp for a few 

 hours, and made some geological discoveries. I took my camera 

 and walked on a few miles to a blacks' camp, and was very 

 fortunate to get some good photographs of some wild men who 

 had just come in from the back country. The good season had 

 unfortunately enabled these men to travel over country which in 

 normal times is practically waterless. These natives were mak- 

 ing their way to Crown Point Station. It is most regretable that 

 they were able to leave their own countrv, for this is the undoing 

 of them. 



Prof. Howchin made a good discovery that morning of new 

 glacial indications further up stream. 



Getting away late, we made a forced drive to Black Rock, 

 where we had our mid-day meal, and with one change of horses 

 reached our old camp at Boggy Flat that night. We heard the 

 same old Bustard calling in its strange, grinding noise well into 

 the night. There was a very heavy dew through night, and the 

 thermometer fell to 36 deg. F. 



Next morning we had a good start, and when crossing the 

 flat drove within twenty yards of a fine male Bustard; no doubt 

 the bird which had made so much noise each time we had camped 

 in the vicinity. We now struck out to the east to go round by 

 New Crown Point Station on the Finke. On our way along 

 the river bank, quite large parties of Red-breasted Babblers were 

 met with, and went off chattering loudly, and following one an- 

 other in their strange way. Other birds were ]ilentiful, such as 

 Black-faced Wood-Swallow, Kites. Pipits, Crows, and Aus- 

 tralian Dotterels, which were breeding. 



At mid-day we were delayed bolting u]) the con\eyancc. The 

 fearful bumping it received nearly shook it to jticccs. 



Charlotte Waters telegra])h station was reached in the after- 

 noon, and we sent wires down south. The ofticcr in charge kindly 

 entertained us to tea and cake, and seemed glad to see someone 

 he could converse with. This station has the lowest average rain- 

 fall in Australia, 3 A inches. This vear it has had over 20 inches. 



