532 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



December 20. After we had travelled downhill for 3 miles to 

 the north, granite was seen in a gully. Thence the country 

 rose slightly, and we crossed 5 miles more of sandstone country. 

 Here we entered on rough sandstone ranges. As the sandstone 

 appeared to extend for many miles to the north and west, we 

 changed our course to due east. 



In 2 miles, mainly downhill, we reached the edge of the sand- 

 stone country and emerged on the underlying granite, which was 

 very coarsely crystalline, with orthoclase crystals 2 inches in 

 length. 



After I mile more to the east, we struck east-north-east, and 

 continued for 4 miles, mostly down the left bank of a fourth- 

 magnitude creek, over granite country with fine green grass and 

 large picturesque boulders, to the PEACH RIVER, and camped on 

 the left bank. 



The river here differs thoroughly in character from what we 

 saw higher up on the previous journey. It has a diffuse bed with 

 about a dozen channels divided by teatree ridges. One large 

 stream was flowing freely, only fordable at long intervals. The 

 bed of the river was plentifully strewn with granite boulders, and 

 showed bars of the same rock. (CAMP 13 : white gum, " Peach, 

 J. xxD. 79." Latitude, by observation of Achernar, 13 33' 30" S.) 



December 21. Some TORRES STRAIT PIGEONS were seen to-day 

 for the first time. 



