578 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



NNW. three-quarters of a mile, and NW. one mile, till it left our 

 course westward to join the Macmillan. In 2 miles more, to 

 NNW., we reached the northern escarpment of the tableland, and 

 after taking a series of bearings (BiRD ISLAND lay N. 38E.), descended 

 to a lower shelf of the sandstone. When we had travelled 2 miles 

 to the NW. near the eastern edge of the low tableland, we crossed 

 a fourth- magnitude creek, with SCRUB and PALMS, falling to the 

 NW. In i mile further a similar creek was crossed. Here there 

 was a heavy thunder-shower. 



One mile to the west we camped on a gully falling into the 

 last-mentioned creek. (CAMP 47. Latitude, by observation of 

 Canopus, 12 2' 30" S.) 



To-day's travelling had been of a better character than any 

 stage on this side of Attack Creek. The soil has been sandy, and 

 either red or white in colour, according to the varying composition 

 of the sandstone ; the grass somewhat sparse but fairly good in 

 quality. On the higher tableland the timber was mostly stringy- 

 bark and myall, with some box. Vines were plentiful and we 

 obtained some bunches of good black grapes, almost free of the 

 astringent taste common to Australian wild fruits. On the lower 

 shelf of the tableland, bloodwood timber took the place of box. 

 HEATHY FLATS extended from the base of the sandstone escarpment 

 to the SAND-HILLS of the coast. 



February 27. Half a mile north of Camp 47, we crossed a 

 third- magnitude creek running strongly to ESE. In 2 miles more 

 to the north, over low and open-timbered country (stringybark 

 and myall) we had CROSSED THE SANDSTONE TABLELAND and reached 

 the low escarpment which formed its northern edge. The scarp 

 is indented here with a deep bay, receding about 3 miles to the 

 west. 



In a mile and a half to the north, through low heathy country 

 (sandstone " cement ") with GIGANTIC ANT-HILLS and no timber, 

 we reached a creek of the second or third magnitude, with teatrees 

 and a few palms, falling to the north-east. The creek was flooded 

 and we had to BRIDGE it by felling a large teatree and ekeing it 

 out with saplings and a rope. The packs and saddles were carried 

 across the creek by the bridge. The horses crossed higher up the 

 creek, at a place where they could just keep their feet, bare-backed. 

 The passage was effected without any mishap, but " Queensland " 

 had, as usual on such occasions, to be hoisted up the boggy bank. 



There was RAIN before and after we got into camp and after 

 dark. The creek rose 6 inches during the night. We camped on 

 the left bank. (CAMP 48.) [A few miles north-west of this camp 

 was (so far as our observation went) the northmost point of the 

 escarpment of sandstone which forms the eastern limit of the 

 tableland which was named the SIR WILLIAM THOMSON RANGE. 

 We had seen the escarpment, almost without a break, from 



