CHAPTER XI 

 THE WINTER IN AND AROUND LYELL 



OUR next expedition was to be up the main stream of 

 the Hutton River into the almost unknown region to 

 the north, but as the winter was now upon us with its 

 cold and rain, it was impossible to make a start until the 

 early spring. On this account, we were obliged to spend 

 the next two months in and around Lyell, but we were 

 not, on that account, idle. There were our two bore- 

 holes on the south side of the Permian escarpment to be 

 visited, and the fossils which we brought back from 

 the plateau country to the north-east also claimed our 

 attention. 



No reports had been received from the bore-holes 

 for several weeks, but the latest news was that both were 

 progressing favourably. 



Considerable time was occupied during the first 

 weeks after our return in making the preliminary arrange- 

 ments for our trip into the far north, and we were most 

 anxious to meet with some one who had visited the 

 region. For several days we were unable to gain any 

 information about the upper reaches of the river, but at 

 last there came on board a rather wild-looking individual 

 with a long unkempt red beard, and wearing a broad- 

 brimmed felt hat, who stated that he had heard that we 



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