BY FRANK HANN. 15 



went back to my previous camp, and next day crossed the creek, 

 tracing it to my present camp. I noted that for the whole 

 distance, the country is of excellent description for stock raising, 

 as indeed is the whole country about here. It was long after 

 dark when I got back to camp. I was quite alone, and must 

 say that it is not quite the safest thing to go out by 

 oneself in blacks' country, even although well armed. Still 

 next day I again set out alone to run the creek down, and 

 sent my party along the north bank whilst I traversed the 

 southern one. 



Aftet travelling about eight miles, I found that it ran into 

 the one at the head of which I had camped on a previous 

 occasion. I have named this creek the McLarty, after Mr. 

 McLarty, of Nullagine, in recognition of his many good offices 

 towards me. The big creek I have named the "Isdell," after 

 Mr, Isdell, of the Nullagine, for the same reason. For ten 

 miles the Isdell runs through ideal cattle country, with a few 

 basalt hills. Then it flows into a terrible gorge, which is 

 naturally impassable. Finding a splendid camping ground, I 

 determined to remain here for one day to look round me. The 

 blacks were exceedingly numerous, but whenever one of our 

 party came into view they fled. On the very next night, they 

 came up and made a fire on the slope of Mt. Isdell. My boys 

 declared they saw tAvo blacks walk between us and the fire, but 

 this I doubted for the blacks' camp was too far away for exact 

 observation of their doings. Still I thought it well to be on the 

 safe side, so I had the lire put out and extinguished my lamp, 

 for we formed too good a target for stray spears with these both 

 alight. Having had a good look at the country for several miles 

 round my camp I came to the conclusion that such country was 

 much too good to lie idle as a mere hunting ground for wild 

 blacks, so I packed up and set off for Derby with the intention 

 of taking it up. 



I took a S.S. East course and travelled along, skirting the 

 high, rough range on our right, which I have called the Isdell 

 Range. After 10 miles of pretty smart travelling I struck the 

 McLarty at a splendid spring, then ran the creek up 3 miles 

 and came across my outward tracks. Seeing no other or better 

 way of return, and not wishing to lose time in finding another 

 pass, I retraced my old tracks, intent only on getting to Derby 

 as fast as I could that I might not be forestalled in taking up 

 the grand country by anyone else who might perchance have got 

 wind of it. 



