408 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 



growth of the trees. Having subsequently seen some of Leich- 

 harclt's camps on the Burdekin, Mackenzie, and Barcoo Rivers a 

 great similarity was observed in the mode of building the hut, 

 and its relative position in regard to wood and water supply, and 

 the position in regard to the general features of the country was 

 exactly where a pai'ty going westward would first receive a check 

 from the waterless table-land between the Roper and Victoria 

 Rivers, and would camp and reconnoitre ahead before attempting 

 to cross to the north-west coast. This creek is named ' Elsey ' on 

 the map." 



Again, on 31st July he remarks — " Near this spring were several 

 huts constructed in the rudest manner by heaping branches 

 together." And on 6th August — "These water vessels were 

 formed by hollowing out a block of wood in the shape of a canoe 

 and had a capacity of three gallons, and it was evident that they 

 possess tools of iron as also of stone." Further on 13th August— 

 " Some fishing spears showed marks of iron tools." 



The Elsey Creek is one of the southern tributaries of the 

 Roper River, forming what is known as the Warlock Ponds on 

 the Overland Telegraph Line. The position of the old camp, 

 from what I can determine from a conv er.-^ation with Mr. Gregory, 

 is about fifteen miles south from the present cattle station, and on 

 the east bank of the creek. About two and half years ago a 

 letter appeared in the Aufttralasian, from an overlander from 

 Queensland to Port Darwin by the gulf stock track, stating that 

 the writer had met with an old native woman on the McArthur 

 River, who told him that she had seen two very old white men 

 with the tribes far up the river to the south-west, that one of 

 these men had used crutches, the use of which she imitated and 

 that only one of these men was then alive. 



After this, when proceeding on his journey near Limmen River, 

 he was joined by two stockmen who had come from the newly 

 formed stations on the head waters of the McArthur and Limmen, 

 and who informed him that on their route they had seen an old 

 grey-headed man, who looked like a white man, who was coming 

 towards them calling out, " white- fellow, white fellow ;" when he 

 was joined by a large party of natives who hustled him away, 

 and they saw no more of him. 



I had already heard from overland drovers that there was a 

 rumour of wiiites being with the natives of the McArthur ; and 

 when I read this traveller's letter I felt that this statement of the 

 native woman was most valuable evidence of Europeans having 

 been with the natives. Her demonstration of the use of the 

 crutches must have been acquired from actual observation, the 

 few overland drovers that had passed by the Gulf Route would 

 not have required them as they never leave the saddle, and natives 



