Vol. II, 



IQ02 



J Carter, Exploi-ation of North-West Cape. 



abruptly, though the land still trends on about three miles 

 further in sand-hills and salt marshes. We carefully skirted 

 the edge of the treacherous marsh, but in spite of all care 

 the horses broke through the crust several times, but luckily 

 did not get absolutely bogged. In the centre of the marsh 

 were four reddish rounded objects, which suddenly stood 

 up as big specimens of the great plain kangaroo. They 

 looked immense on the bare flat plain, and were evidently hav- 

 ing a siesta, with no cover for dogs or other enemies to approach. 

 By noon we were at the Exmouth Gulf, and stopped for dinner. 

 I may mention a " record" of another description was here made, 

 as no wheeled conveyance of any kind had previously been 

 round Vlaming Head. In the afternoon we had to proceed 

 along the beach, as everywhere else seemed to be dense thicket. 

 Fortunately the tide was low and the going hard. A large white 

 patch ahead of us proved to be a flock of Bare-eyed Cockatoos 

 taking a siesta on the bare beach. Towards sundown we 

 judged we were opposite a watering place, and forced a way to 

 it through the dense scrub. This is a place shown to me by 

 a native 12 years ago, after promises of much tobacco, as he 

 said no white man had ever seen it, and the natives did not 

 wish them to know of it. The hole at surface is in solid rock 

 (cement conglomerate), about 18 inches in diameter. This aper- 

 ture opens out below into a large cavern, with a large, deep pool 

 of splendid water at one end. The third time the bucket was 

 lowered the rope slipped off the handle, and, as the native 

 declared the cave full of snakes, it fell to my lot to descend and 

 rescue the bucket. My stay below was not long enough to see 

 if snakes were plentiful or not. They used to be there in 

 previous years. Next day we left the buggy and rode about ten 

 miles south towards where are a pool and spring of fresh water. 

 On the way through the thicket many Singing {Ptilotis sonora) 

 and Keartland Honey-eaters were feeding on the yellow pendent 

 blossoms of the cork trees (?). One bird among them seeming 

 to differ by its bright yellow back, I shot it, but unfortunately 

 failed to find it in the tangled undergrowth. A little further 

 south an Osprey was uttering its plaintive whistling, aloft in the 

 air. The nest was a conspicuous object high up in a gum tree, 

 and about a mile from the beach, the greatest distance I have 

 yet seen one. It also proved empty. Proceeding south we saw 

 an immense nest in a low gum tree, which could only be an 

 Eagle's. Deciding to visit it on returning, we went on to Quail- 

 ing Pool to water. Two White-eyed Ducks rose hurriedly at 

 our approach, and flew straight to sea out of sight, apparently 

 none the worse for two barrels discharged at long range. Just 

 as we were leaving after dinner an Emu came in to drink, the first 

 one seen. Returning we looked at the Eagle's nest. A noble 

 White-bellied Sea Eagle slipped quietly off the nest while we were 

 still at some distance, and, taking a wide circuit, flew close over- 



