12 THE JARDINKS' EXPEDITION 



improve ir.ent. but it rained all night, and on Chi'istmas 

 Day Frank vvished his companions the " compliments of 

 the season," and i^ushed on through the downpour. 

 Christmas Creek was named tliis day ; the country was 

 somewhat better and they found a place to camp where 

 there was good water and abundance of blue grass ; green 

 tree-ants were also plentiful, and caused them great dis- 

 comfort. Up to the end of the month, although the country 

 was on tlie whole better, the deluging rain was most trying, 

 and one thunderstorm was especially violent. The blacks 

 on 29t]i December rushed and scattered the cattle and 

 horse^S and chased one of the boys. They were driven 

 off, but 10 of the cattle were lost on this occasion. They 

 dare not delay on country the whole of which might be 

 flooded several feet at any time. On the last day of the 

 month the stock, and packs were safely conveyed across 

 Macleod Creek, and they camped on slightly rising ground 

 on the bank of Kendall Creek. 



The New Year brought little relief to the wayworn 

 travellers. The cattle and horses had to struggle through 

 scrubby country, and over the large trees which had been 

 laid low by tlie recent terrific storm ; but storms with 

 heavy thunder and pouring rain were of almost daily 

 occurrence. The ground was boggy, and the creeks and 

 watercourses were running strong, but on 2nd January 

 they had what they describe as the best camp of the journey 

 on a high plateau. On 5th January, they sighted a range 

 about 10 miles distant, and between them and it was a 

 fine vp.lley intersected by a large sandy river which they 

 named after their friends, the Archers, of Gracemere. 

 Why the Survey Department should in later maps call it 

 thie Archer or Peach is to me a mystery-. Surely they might 

 paj^ the intrepid young explorers the poor compliment 

 of retaining the name they gave it, and refusing to recognise 

 it by any other. Mr. Spowers, our present intelligent 

 Surveyor- General, I hope will correct this. The valley 

 is described as one of great richness and beauty, the best 

 country seen since passing Broadsound. They seem to 

 have crossed the Archer without any exceptional difficulty, 

 notwithstanding its width and the scrub which lined both 

 banks. The flowers which grow in abundance in this 

 valley are referred to as being very beautiful and comprising 



