386 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



carried on. Down the river for 7 miles the prospecting gave 

 only negative results, and this is remarkable in view of the fact 

 that the site of the subsequent LUKINVILLE rush must have been 

 passed over. The Lukinville gold was in the form of fine dust, and 

 for the most part went to reward the industry and patience of 

 Chinese diggers. 



Up the river, the flying party, consisting of Hann, Taylor, 

 Warner and Jerry, met with more success. The first CAMP was 

 made on qtk August, 5 miles east of Camp 20 (about north of 

 MOUNT DAINTREE), and further encouraging traces of GOLD were 

 found. The second CAMP, of loth August, was 5 miles further 

 up the river, say at the mouth of the creek on the west side of 

 MOUNT Fox. Here GOLD was found in the bed of the river. The 

 sight of fresh cattle droppings gave rise to high hopes of an addition 

 to the supply of meat, but the hunt for the CATTLE led to nothing. 

 The third CAMP was reached in four hours of travelling on I2tb 

 August, and the distance may be estimated at 10 miles, which 

 would place the camp about on the site of PALMERVILLE. The 

 latitude is given as 15 32' 34" S. That of Palmerville, according 

 to the 4- mile map, is 15 59'. The results of prospecting here were 

 " more flattering than hitherto," and Hann was now in hopes of 

 being on the right track for discovering a GOLDFIELD. 



On i$th August, a further progress of 12 miles was made up 

 the river, the men prospecting on the way, with results " more or 

 less favourable " and the fourth CAMP was probably about the mouth 

 of SANDY CREEK. 1 GOLD was found in the river bed at the camp 

 of 1 3th August. 



On 1 4-th August, the party went 17 miles up the Palmer, 

 cutting off bends of the river where it was possible to do so. The 

 CAMP of 1 4th August was about a mile below the mouth of Granite 

 Creek. 1 During the day, GOLD was found in the bed of the Palmer 

 as well as in ravines on both sides. About half-way, Hann must 

 have passed the site of MAYTOWN, afterwards the official centre 

 of the PALMER GOLDFIELD. 



On l$tb August, leaving Jerry in camp in charge of two horses, 

 one of which had lost a shoe and been lamed by the sharp slates, 

 Hann and Warner prospected the river above the camp, again 

 finding GOLD, and afterwards ascended a high hill, from which a 

 view up the valley gave the impression that the country was too 

 rough for further progress. This hill, HANN'S FURTHEST EAST, is 

 without doubt the one which subsequently received the name of 

 MOUNT HANN. 



Returning to the camp, preparations for the return journey were 



1 The " Sandy Creek " of the Palmer, not the Sandy Creek of the Mitchell already 

 mentioned. 



2 " Granite Creaks " are nearly as common as " Sandy Creeks." Both belong to a 

 family, which includes Stony Creeks, Oaky Creeks, etc., descriptive of some character- 

 istic of the creek where it was first met with, and the name is of no topographical value. 



