MULLIGAN'S FIFTH EXPEDITION 451 



of the HodgHnson and MacLeod. A good road for drays all the way. Spent some 

 time in different camps prospecting. Crossed a granite range east on to the heads of 

 the Mitchell where in one locality we could get innumerable colours of gold but no 

 payable prospects. Greatly disappointed in where we expected to get rough country 

 we found level deep rich alluvial soil well grassed and well watered over 3,000 square 

 miles in extent interrupted by mountains. Further south large scrub containing very 

 large cedars and kauri pine over 150 square miles. Crossed the main range on to the 

 heads of the Herbert where there is another very large extent of very good 

 level country. Got stream tin here. Crossed the range again on to the western 

 waters. Crossed the heads of the Lynd and over to Fossilbrook. Mr. Warner 

 will have the whole of the country passed over carefully mapped. I have kept 

 a journal well written up, in which everything is carefully noted, describing grass, 

 soil, formation, timber, etc. We stop here four days to spell horses sick from eating 

 poison plant. Do you suggest moving in any other direction ? " 



The reply, dated Brisbane, I9th June, was : 



" Secretary for Works wishes you to use your own discretion as to direction of 

 further exploration, but he thinks you had better explore south of Cooktown. A. O. 

 Herbert." 



Probably the above was not the whole of the telegraphic 

 correspondence. In all likelihood it was at this time that Mulligan 

 asked for a further subsidy of 500, to enable him to prospect the 

 Hodgkinson, and was refused (see Heaton's Australian Men of the 

 Time, p. 148). (SEE MAP K.) 



The proposed delay of four days at MOUNT SURPRISE was 

 lengthened to seventeen by the disappearance of some of the horses, 

 which were not recovered till 2nd July. One HORSE, when found, 

 had become MAD, and it is remarkable that the Jardine Brothers had 

 noted a similar result to follow the eating of POISON PLANT. 



Other interesting events are recorded by Mulligan : " During 

 our stay at Mount Surprise, Mr. HANN, Mr. Anning and many 

 others have passed to and from the Palmer, the former had fat cattle 

 with them for the Palmer. Several parties belonging to the tele- 

 graph contract party have passed during the last few days." The 

 construction of the TELEGRAPH LINE FROM JUNCTION CREEK TO THE 

 PALMER, along Hann's return track of 1872, was already in progress. 



On 3rd July, the party LEFT MOUNT SURPRISE Station, following 

 the Palmer Road north-north-west past MOUNT McDEViTT to 

 Hann's Camp 85. " What a difference," writes Mulligan, " there 

 is in travelling on the road compared with through the bush ! . . . 

 No road here when last I came, only the track we made ! " 



Mulligan LEFT THE PALMER ROAD at his CAMP No. 33 between 

 Hann's Camps 84 and 85, early on 6th July, and struck at first 

 10 degrees south of west. After travelling about (prospecting 

 creeks and gullies, in which he got " colours only "), in a general 

 north-west direction, for 1 1 miles, he camped on the northern or 

 Tate side of the divide between that river and the Lynd. CAMP 34. 



Next day (jth July), after making about 4 miles 1 of northing, 



1 The diary says " travelled 9 miles." The route must have been circuitous. 



