BRITISH NEW GUINEA. 429 



of animal life. Not a sound, not a whisper broke the j3ainful 

 silence of the lone surroundings. From the bamboo zone 

 upwards the climate was magnificent, the atmosphere dry 

 and bracing, and the temperature at mid-day in tlie partial 

 shade of the forest not exceedino- 60 deff. or lOdeii;. Fahrenheit. 

 The rocky peaks of Mount Knutsford were crowned with 

 an Alpine flora, which also fiourislied at a lower altitude 

 within the highest zone of the mountain. The clouds of this 

 region were apparently motionless, their upper stratum being- 

 like an Arctic landscape of dazzling whiteness, Diorite 

 and crystalline micaceous schist represented the geological 

 character of Knutsford s summit and ])ase. It was noticed 

 that after 10 a.m. the regions below the summit of this 

 mountain were entirely obscured by dense vapour. Before 

 that hour an extensive and magnificent view of the whole 

 southern coastal slopes could be obtained, the sinuosities of 

 the Vanapa could be traced, and the great physical features 

 of the country followed without effort. Advantage was 

 taken of the position by the leader, who executed a topo- 

 graphical sketch of the representative heights. Following 

 along the course of Mount Knutsford, they descended to and 

 crossed the Vanapa at au altitude of 10,130 feet above 

 sea-level. Renewing the ascent of the central spur of the 

 Owen Stanley Range, across the river, they reached Winter's 

 Height, 11,882 feet, from which to the summit of the gi*eat 

 range was comparatively but a step. A cypress forest 

 mantled Winter's Height, and the howling of wild dogs was 

 the only sound that broke upon the awful silence of the 

 stupendous Alpine region. Fi'om the top of Mount Douglas 

 strawberries were obtained, and the summit of ihe range 

 disclosed a great variety of grasses, daisies, buttercups, forget- 

 me-nots, and heaths. 



On attaining the culminating eminence of the Owen 

 Stanley Range, upon which Sir William bestowed the illus- 

 trious name of our gracious Sovereign Queen A^ictoria, it 

 was discovered that the crown of the mountain was composed 

 of six separate peaks, with a common base. The peaks 

 occupying the extremities were scaled without difficulty, but 

 those of intermediate ])Osilion, being comjiosed of bare pre- 

 cipitous rocks, were ascended only with very great difficulty ; 

 indeed, in the act of climbing one of these the leader of the 

 expedition nearly forfeited his life. Ia the day-time the 

 atmosphere was clear, dry, and bracing; the nights were 

 cold, and the early morning dawned upon a region white 



