MULLIGAN'S FIFTH EXPEDITION 441 



the report on my explorations of 1879-80 in the Cape York 

 Peninsula. 



Having become convinced that Mulligan had intentionally left 

 much to be explained by the map, I made an effort to trace the 

 latter, and I am indebted to Mr. A. R. Macdonald, lately Under- 

 secretary for Mines, for a copy of a record of the Department of 

 Lands (Survey Branch), inscribed as in the footnote. 1 



It is evident that Warner's map was received between 27th March 



and June, 1876, as from no other source could the information 



relating to Mulligan's explorations have been derived. The lines of 

 alternate dot and dash showing " Mulligan's Track " depict first 

 that portion of his fifth, or official, journey lying between the 

 head of the Palmer and (via the heads of the Mitchell and Wild 

 Rivers) the " main divide " between the Herbert River and the 

 Lynd, and second, that portion of the same journey from the 

 confluence of the Lynd and Mitchell to the Lukin (Holroyd) 

 River and thence to the Normanby River north of the present 

 " Welcome " Railway Station. The line of dash and two dots 

 showing " Mulligan's second trip, 1875," depicts only 32 miles 

 (from the Hodgkinson River northward) of what I have described 

 as the "third" trip (1874). 



It was gratifying to find that the track of the fifth or official 

 trip, so far as the tracing showed it, agreed in a remarkable manner 

 with the track as laid down by me from the narrative before the 

 tracing came into my possession. The only differences were due 

 to my having much more complete maps to work on than were 

 available to the compiler of June, 1876. 



The tracing throws no light on Mulligan's four previous trips, 

 the first of which led directly to the opening of the Palmer Gold- 

 field. So far as I am aware their tracks are now for the first time 

 laid down on the maps accompanying this volume. 



The party LEFT COOKTOWN with twenty-two horses, on 2<)tb 

 April, 1 875, and travelled via the FOUR-MILE and " Coward's Track" 

 to the NORMANBY DIGGINGS. (SEE MAP E.) COWARD'S TRACK, 

 as already explained, is the westmost of two roads up the Normanby 

 valley, and follows the head known as LAKE CREEK. (SEE MAP G.) 

 ' The NORMANBY COUNTRY, as well as the HEADS OF THE LAURA," 

 says Mulligan, " is about the best country to be seen in the north. 

 Little and Byers are running their fat cattle on the extreme east 

 head of the Laura. Here we stop to cure sufficient beef for our 

 trip. Paid 30 for a bullock, which, with 200 Ib. ham and suet, 

 we reckon will do us for a few months." 



"Tracing of Sketch Map showing the Position of Hodgkinson and Palmer Gold- 

 fields, compiled from Survey of Road from Cooktown to Palmerville and Explorations by 

 Dalrymple, Hann and Mulligan. June, 1876. Scale 8 miles to an inch. 



Note : Mulligan's Track shown thus 



,, Second ,, ,, M 1875. 



The information was traced from Plan in Survey Office, Cat. No. C. 153-6. E.F.E. 

 4.1.15." 



H-7 



