FIRST EXPEDITION 497 



In 2 miles further (to the north-west) the track led up to the 

 summit of a granite ridge, covered with well-grown bloodwood, 

 stringybark and ironbark timber, about 200 feet above the level 

 of the plain. 



In I mile to the north-west, over very easy ridges, we crossed 

 from right to left bank of a fourth-magnitude creek with consider- 

 able water-holes. We found trees on the left bank marked 

 " W.R.," " C.J.," and " C.N." 



In 2 miles more on the same course, with a gradual sinuous 

 ascent, the track reached a saddle in the range about 600 feet above 

 the level of the plains which we left in the morning. The rock 

 was a granite, of loosely aggregated quartz granules, tin-white mica 

 and very little felspar, with outcrops of gneiss here and there. 

 On the saddle was a tree marked " M.F." On this range the 

 BLOODWOOD TREES attain an ENORMOUS SIZE ; the stringybarks do 

 not enlarge with the increased altitude ; the ironbarks are large, 

 though not numerous. 



The track led for half a mile from the saddle north-westward 

 down the right bank of a gully which it then crossed, and for a mile 

 and three-quarters, with a very easy descent, to the right bank of 

 a gully falling to the north. Having run this down a quarter of a 

 mile, the track crossed to the left bank and continued to the north- 

 east for i mile the greater part of the way along the right bank of 

 a deep fourth-magnitude creek with water-holes and the remains 

 of a camp. 



About half a mile to the north-west over an easy ridge, with 

 lofty bloodwood and stringybark timber, we crossed a fine creek 

 of the second magnitude, with Leichhardt and teatrees in its 

 sandy bed. This creek has two channels, but neither yielded a drop 

 of water, though we searched for about a mile up and down. There 

 can be little doubt that this is what HANN named " BALCLUTHA 

 CREEK " when he crossed it nearer the sea. [Between his 33rd and 

 34th camps, jth September, 1872. R. L. J.] 



In 2 miles to N. 39 W. (true), mostly descending through open 

 bloodwood and stringybark country, we came to a water-course with 

 deep water- holes and lilies, and the remains of an old camp. [SEE 

 MAP F.] We crossed it and pitched our tents on the left bank. 

 (CAMP 35 : Moreton Bay ash, marked broad arrow, J. 7/9/79. 

 Latitude 14 16' 12" S.) [Main stream of BALCLUTHA CREEK. 

 R. L. J.] 



Three bandicoots and a pheasant furnished a sumptuous dinner. 



September 8. The track, continuing to N. 39 W. (true), took us 

 in 2i miles over level country with a bottom of recent " cement " 

 to a third-magnitude creek running north-north-east ; in 2 miles 

 more, to a fourth-magnitude creek with water in " cement " ; 

 in i mile further, to a second, or third-magnitude creek (dry) with 

 " cement " bars, falling to north-north-east ; and in one mile 



