200 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



stopped. The result was a nice little " pro- 

 spect " of some seven or eight pennyweights. 

 This was distinctly a payable proposition — 

 or rather it would have been had permanent 

 water existed in the vicinity. 



Andries arrived with the wagon at about 

 midday; he was much impressed by the find. 

 Then we began an examination of the sur- 

 rounding country, taking small quantities of 

 " wash ' here and there from likely-looking 

 spots. These were sent back to the water-hole 

 with instructions that the various lots were to 

 be kept separate. When the liquid had cleared 

 a little I recommenced cradling. However, 

 except in one instance, I did not find a single 

 " colour." The exception was in respect of a 

 parcel of " wash " taken from the margin of 

 the dry bed of the river. This was found to 

 contain a small speck, — one most likely 

 washed down from the terrace where we had 

 worked in the first instance. However, the 

 existence of a practically payable gold-field 

 in that vicinity was inconceivable, in view of 

 the almost unmitigated aridity. 



The country had the appearance of being 

 highly mineralised; quartz reefs ran like white 

 threads in every direction. Copper-carbonate 

 stains were to be seen on many of the rock- 



