FIRST EXPEDITION 481 



The north-eastward promontory of the sandstone range passed 

 in this day's march is very conspicuous from the Mclvor and 

 Morgan valleys. The lower beds of sandstone appear to rest 

 Dn porphyry. 



The gap by which we dropped down into the valley where we 

 :amped was not more than 300 feet above the sea-level. It was 

 :omposed of slate and greywacke, with some crystalline quartz 

 marked with reddish spots (decomposed pyrites). For about 3 miles 

 "urther to the north the slates and greywackes rose into little hills 

 'forming the right wall of the valley in w r hich we camped), but not 

 :o a sufficient height to " take on " the sandstone, which has been 

 lere entirely denuded. 



Having disposed the camp to my satisfaction, I returned to the 

 jap with Macdonald, who bottomed in a likely gully. The 

 >ottom was found to be decomposed greywacke, and the washdirt 

 ncluded fragments of porphyry, greywacke, granite, slate and 

 uartz. We found no gold. 



After sunset we heard NATIVES talking near the camp, but could 

 ot see them. 



August 20. We left Camp 19 at 8 a.m. and crossed the creek 

 t a point, about a mile to the north-west, where the left wall 

 f the valley dropped down to low ridges. Here we emerged 

 rom the valley and pursued our course to the north-west for about 

 miles over low spurs of the range slate and conglomeratic 

 reywacke. These stratified rocks are nearly vertical and strike 

 orth and south. The edge of the sandstone is distant about 5 miles 

 o the south. [About 3 miles, according to modern maps. R. L. J.] 

 ''here is a good deal of white quartz on the ridges, with crystalline 

 avities and a little " brownstone " (decomposed pyrites). We 



cashed some dirt from cavities in the slate, but found no gold nor 



j 



ven iron sand or garnets. 



From the left wall of the valley which we left in the morning, I 

 ook a series of bearings to recognisable points on the coast. I could 

 ee several large inlets of the sea to the north and north-east, and a 

 agoon situated about half-way to CAPE FLATTERY. [Cape Flattery 

 ras named by Captain Cook, loth August, 1770. R. L. J.] 



We then held for about 4 miles to the west, at the base of a 

 ange (on our left) composed of conglomeratic slates and pale blue 

 ;iinty sandstone. The NATIVES were burning the grass on a large 

 cale about a mile to the north. At the end of the 4 miles, the 

 jange was found to swing round to the north and to extend in this 

 .irection for 6 or 8 miles, and as this lay across our path we sought 

 or a gap, and found one (about 400 feet above the sea-level) which 

 iook us down into the next valley. The ascent was very trying 

 : o the horses, two of which showed signs of giving in. From the 

 >ddle of the gap (slate with a meridional strike) a good view was 

 Ibtained to the north and south and a series of bearings was taken. 



