BY FRANK HAXN. 19 



struck it at its junction with Christmas Creek. The high range 

 I have named the Sir John, in honour of Sir John Forrest, 

 KC.M.G. 



Another high, table-topped mountain, to which I have given 

 the name of Mt. Brennan, after Mr. Brennan, of Derby, lies 

 between the Annie and the Roy. All the country here is very 

 stony. I may mention that, as I went along from mountain to 

 mountain and from river to river, I took bearings by the 

 prismatic compass wherever it was possible to do so, so that their 

 relative positions may be laid down fairly correctly on the map. 



As we were descending the slope of Mt. Brennan we heard 

 the blacks cooeeing in our immediate vicinity. My packs I had 

 left dt Roy Creek, close to the foot of the mountain, which we 

 reached without being molested. But whilst we were at dinner, 

 two blackfellows made their appearance. I knew it would never 

 do to let them see the strength, or, rather, weakness, of my 

 party, lor I only had my six Queensland boys (one of whom 

 shortly afterwards died, to my great regret), so I fired a few 

 shots over their heads, and they beat a rapid retreat to the 

 mountain. The blacks appear to be very numerous all through 

 this country, and it behoves the traveller to be constantly on the 

 look out for them. 



Ten miles past the gorge I was able to turn the range, 

 and here, about Roy Creek, I found some really good country. 



1 now directed my course east-south-east, and in six miles 

 came again into the Sir John Gorge. It is a most romantic 

 looking place. You can ride your horse right to the edge and 

 drop a stone plumb, a sheer drop of 200 feet, into a 

 magnificent lagoon, formed by the widening of the river. In 

 shape, this gorge resembles a boomerang. To get completely 

 round the range I had to travel four miles in a north-west 

 direction, having splendid cattle country on my left. Once 

 round, I shaped my course south-east, and after travelling six 

 miles I arrived at a fine river coming from north-north-west. 

 At a distance of about a mile south-east of where I struck it, it 

 forms a junction with the Fitzroy, about half-a-mile above the 

 Sir John Gorge, which at this spot appears to have been cut by 

 the action of water through the solid rock. I now left my camp, 

 and went up the south-east side of the Fitzroy. The Sir John 

 Range I observed to lie at a distance of about a mile from the 

 river all the way. As for the country, it is tolerably good, but 

 fearfully stony, rolling basalt predominating. 



