540 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



about half a mile north-east of the camp, and found that STINGING 

 TREES were very plentiful. This hill bears 41 E. from MOUNT 

 CROLL. Crosbie joined me here, he having ascended by another 

 spur. On the way up he disturbed a NATIVE, who was in the act 

 of lighting a signal fire. We followed the bare grassy crest of the 

 right wall of the valley of BEETLE CREEK (the sides and bottom being 

 very scrubby) for a mile to N. 36 E., when we came in sight of 

 Camp 17, bearing S. 36 E. and about 5 miles distant. 



The hills on the right wall of the valley were of granite with 

 black mica and orthoclase felspar. There were a few REEFS of 

 quartz, and some of mixed quartz and orthoclase felspar. 



We had allowed ourselves to go too far before night overtook 

 us. It was very difficult to get home in the dark, down the steep 

 slope of the valley, which was strewn with boulders and dense with 

 scrub, the latter infested with stinging trees. 



There was heavy rain through the night. About supper-time 

 we were suddenly invaded by a PLAGUE OF SMALL BEETLES, which 

 drowned themselves in the tea, swarmed the meat and sugar, 

 ate holes in the saddle-cloths and pack-bags, and crawled over 

 our persons in legions. The nuisance abated somewhat towards 

 the morning. 



January 3. The rain continued till about midday. We 

 packed up and left Camp 1 8 at half-past two. We had just left, 

 however, when the rain recommenced. We had a miserable 

 day's travelling, and were in constant fear of flooding or bogging. 

 We made about 7 miles to NE., N. and NE., round the right wall 

 of the BEETLE CREEK valley, into the valley of WILSON CREEK. 

 Wilson Creek was flooded when we crossed it. Luckily the rain 

 stopped just before we camped on Wilson Creek (although the 

 creek rose higher afterwards) and there was no more during the 

 night. (CAMP 19.) 



January 4 (Sunday). This was a fine " drying " day, which 

 was much needed. I ascended the mountain on the right wall of 

 the valley. This mountain bears N. 26 E. from Mount Croll. 



Troubled by a doubt whether Wilson Creek was not really the 

 main head of Irvine Creek, I ascended in the evening a hill on the 

 left wall of the valley, and satisfied myself that IRVINE CREEK came 

 out of another valley between Wilson Creek and Birthday Mount. 

 BEETLE CREEK and WILSON CREEK are tributaries of the IRVINE. 

 [Wilson Creek was named after James Grant Wilson, a former 

 colleague on the Geological Survey of Scotland, since deceased. 

 R. L. J.] 



January 5. A dull wet day. Before starting I had to adjust 

 a quarrel between Macdonald and Love. They were on the worst 

 possible terms for the rest of the journey. We travelled up the 

 WILSON VALLEY to its head, about 3i miles to east, north and 

 north-west. About 2 miles from our camp we saw four or five 



