458 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



quartz pebbles gave indications that they were approaching a 

 country where prospecting for gold might be possible. 



On zjth August, a progress of 12 miles was made, a little to the 

 north of east. " A deep creek running south towards the Coleman " 

 was crossed. This was DISMAL CREEK, which I followed on nth 

 December, 1 879 (Camps 5 and 6, second trip). Mulligan's Camp 65 

 was 2 miles east of Dismal Creek on a quartz ridge, in a country of 

 " light micaceous-slate," several similar ridges having been crossed 

 in the course of the day. After camping, the party " worked hard 

 on the REEFS and in the gullies," prospecting for gold, but " could 

 not raise the colour." 



On 2&th August, the party left the river, which went too far 

 south, and steered 20 degrees south of east for 6 miles, prospecting 

 for gold at intervals, but without success. The course was then 

 altered to a little north of east, in the direction of a range of low 

 hills, and in 4 miles CAMP 66 was pitched. After camping, 

 Mulligan and Warner climbed the hills, which they found to be 

 composed of " hypersthenic granite." They were near the western 

 end of the low range, the eastern end of which, near their Camp 26, 

 HANN AND TAYLOR had visited on 2yth August, 1872, when they 

 found the formation to be mica-schist in which garnets were numer- 

 ous, and which contained many QUARTZ REEFS. As Mulligan 

 remained in camp on the following day, Warner took the sun at 

 noon and determined the latitude to be 14 49' S. It was really 

 about 14 55', but a sun-observation in these latitudes, with a 

 bucket of water for horizon, could not be expected to give very 

 accurate results. 



Near the camp, the black boy pointed out the tracks, only a 

 few weeks old, of shod horses, and a tent-peg was found, and it was 

 evident that the explorers were not the first WHITE MEN on the 

 ground. Prospecting for gold in the neighbourhood of this 

 camp was entirely unsuccessful. 



On $otb August, Mulligan steered 24 degrees east of south for 

 some conical hills. CAMP 67, 6 miles from Camp 66, was pitched 

 on the south side of the COLEMAN RIVER at the foot of the hills in 

 question. The hills proved to be of mica-schist, but prospecting 

 operations met with no success. 



Nine of the horses were missing on the morning of 31 st August, 

 and while they were being searched for, Mulligan prospected for 

 3 miles up the river and camped. CAMP 68. " Quartz reefs and 

 wash plentiful, but this schistone rock is not indicative of gold." 



The party travelled 8 miles to W. 40 N. next day and pitched 

 CAMP 69 a little west of Camp 66. Near the latter they saw " an 

 old and very large camp of some large party," who had travelled 

 20 degrees to the east of south. " We suppose it," says Mulligan, 

 " to have been the PRINCESS CHARLOTTE BAY PARTY." l 



1 I have met with no record of this party's explorations. 



