Geology 



the Carboniferous Series, and a few Stigmaria, the roots 

 of one or more of the larger trees which flourished 

 during the period. 



As regards the vegetation of the valley we found 

 that belts of forest alternated with park-lands covered 

 with a luxuriant growth of grass and studded here and 

 there with groups of trees. 



Birds of the pheasant type, and occasionally a deer, 

 fell to our guns, and in this way we were able to avoid 

 the undue depletion of our stock of provisions. 



The main object of our journey was, of course, the 

 discovery of coal, and in this respect we had been so far 

 unsuccessful. So far as we could tell the rocks through 

 which the creek had cut its channel belonged to the 

 very lowest part of the Coal Measures, and in these 

 there seemed to be no workable seams. In one place 

 there was a bed of very poor quality coal, measuring 

 from 3 to 3^- inches in thickness, but this was, of course, 

 of no value. However, we continued our journey to 

 the limit of navigation in the hopes of encountering 

 something of a more promising nature. 



There were surprisingly few tributaries, and as the 

 country was for the most part densely wooded, we had 

 little chance of exploring to the right and left of the 

 stream. 



At last, however, we reached the mouth of a con- 

 siderable stream which flowed in from the west and 

 which therefore promised more variety, as giving a 

 change of direction it would probably take us off the 

 line of strike. While debating as to whether we should 

 follow the main stream or the tributary we heard a shot 

 fired in the forest not more than half a mile away. 



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