402 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



October, when they saw in front of them the " main range," the 



WATERSHED BETWEEN THE GuLF AND THE PACIFIC. To their eyes 



it appeared " a perfect barrier to further progress." It may be 

 remarked that at a later date the perseverance of prospectors was 

 rewarded by the discovery of at least two passes through this part 

 of the range, by which tracks were made to give access to the 

 GOLD-DIGGINGS of the UPPER PALMER ; but Hann did not wait 

 to seek for passes. After consultation with the other members 

 of his party, he decided to make another attempt to reach the 

 coast. The course was altered to south and south-east, and after 

 a day's march of 13 miles, " equal to 30 on level ground," CAMP 60 

 was pitched on " a creek among the ridges." 



On tyh October, only 2 miles were made, to ESE., and the party 

 camped, as Hann supposed, on the Blomfield River, but probably 

 on ADELINE CREEK, a tributary of the DAINTREE. CAMP 61. 



On loth October, the march continued to the south-south-east 

 for 4 miles to CAMP 62. The head of the DAINTREE must have 

 been crossed. A SNAKE 16 feet long was shot, and Jerry enjoyed 

 a full meal after his own heart, in which the white members of 

 the party gladly shared. 



The expedition moved forward about 4 miles to the south-east 

 on nth October, and CAMP 63 was pitched on a scrubby creek, 

 with plenty of water, which, however, could not be reached by 

 the thirsty horses because of the steepness of the banks. Hann 

 and Jerry had gone ahead of the party when they met a party of 

 very FRIENDLY NATIVES, from whom it was hoped information 

 could be obtained regarding a way to the sea. The natives accom- 

 panied Hann and Jerry on their return to Camp 63. Here the 

 Leader found, to his annoyance, that Taylor, who had been put 

 in charge, refused to accept such a responsibility for the future, 

 as Tate had " entered into a warm altercation with him." 



After the midday meal at the camp, Hann started out to 

 explore, accompanied by Nation and Jerry and two of the friendly 

 natives to act as guides. In 3 miles they reached the summit of 

 a ridge to the south-east, and wished to proceed further in the 

 same direction. The " guides " disapproved, pointed in another 

 direction, and finally slipped away. It soon became apparent that 

 the guides had been in the right. " At our feet," says Hann, 

 " lay miles of thick and IMPENETRABLE SCRUB, covering ridges and 

 gullies alike ; to have ventured into it, with or without horses, 

 would have been sheer madness, as the sea lay miles away not 

 even in sight. The prospect was worse than anything seen by us 

 hitherto. CAPE TRIBULATION and the country for miles around 

 its base was a sea of scrub, which extended as far as our vision in 

 a southerly direction. We turned away from the prospect with 

 a dismal sensation of DISAPPOINTMENT, as we had hopes that this 

 was our way out whereas, it proved a gate shutting us in more 



