556 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



We continued our course to the north through granite country 

 similar to that on the south side of the divide, but rather more 

 closely timbered. A large NATIVE CAMP, which had been deserted 

 for about a fortnight, was passed. At the end of the 4 miles I 

 got on a granite " tor," and saw clear, low country for a long distance 

 towards CAPE WEYMOUTH. 



We struck out in the direction of the Cape (north-east), as I 

 had arranged, through the kindness of Mr. B. FAHEY, Sub-Collector 

 at Cooktown, to CALL THERE AND LEAVE LETTERS to be picked up 

 by the Customs cutter on her way to the lighthouses between 

 Torres Strait and Cooktown. In a mile and a half, through very 

 poor country, we came to a fourth-magnitude creek flowing to 

 the north-north-east (a tributary of the PASCOE) in deep soil with 

 very steep and treacherous banks. There was only one possible 

 crossing. The horse I rode (" Poodle ") stumbled and fell, and 

 I had to jump off into a deep pool. The saddle-pouch in which 

 I carried maps, note-book, etc., was filled with water. We camped 

 on the right bank. (CAMP 31.) This camp was a very poor one for 

 the horses : spinifex grass, myall wood and teatree. There were 

 showers during the night. 



January 27. One of Crosbie's HORSES had got POISONED 

 overnight, and when found in the morning was streaming with 

 perspiration and staggering. It managed to do that day's journey, 

 however, but was very ill at night cold and unable to stand. 



This was a dull, threatening day, with one very heavy shower. 

 We travelled for a mile and a half to N. 33 E. over level country 

 with a bottom of fine white sand, with heath and stunted bushes. 



In one mile and a half more to N. 33 E., through dense brush- 

 wood SCRUB, we crossed from the left to the right bank of a deep 

 third-magnitude creek, running north-west [a branch of the 

 Pascoe River. R. L. J.]. The fine white sandy bottom extended 

 to here. For the rest of the day we traversed gently undulating 

 country (rising on the whole) with a granitic soil. 



Five miles further we crossed a gully, running to the west, 

 with vine and bamboo scrub. In a mile and a half more we crossed 

 a similar gully and camped. (CAMP 32.) [Heads of the PASCOE 

 RIVER. R. L. J.] 



After we had camped, I crossed another scrubby gully and 

 ascended the hills to the north. The hills were of granite, weather- 

 ing so as to show in relief large crystals of orthoclase felspar, quartz 

 in round grains, and black mica. A good deal of REEF- QUARTZ was 

 lying about. The tops of the hills were SCRUBBY, and I could 

 only get a view in glimpses from some of the barer spurs. The 

 northmost peak in the MACROSSAN RANGE bore E. 28 S. ; CAPE 

 DIRECTION, E. 2 N. ; and the south end of HIGH ISLAND in 

 LLOYD BAY, E. 30 N. I touched a STINGING TREE with one 

 finger of the left hand in pushing through the scrub. The pain 



