624 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



and the swamp on the other. The east end of the swamp abutted 

 on scrubby hills of BLOWN SAND. We were obliged to camp in the 

 evening on a lagoon among the sand-hills, about a mile east of 

 Chenium Stockyard. (CAMP 73.) 



2nd April. Some of the horses had strayed in the night, and 

 a late start was made. The whole day was consumed in a fruitless 

 attempt to clear the swamp which had baffled us yesterday, by 

 cutting through or rounding the scrub to the west. We returned 

 to Chenium Stockyard and camped. Our FLOUR being EXHAUSTED, 

 we borrowed 7 Ib. more from the prospectors rations for a day 

 and a half. (CAMP 74.) 



yd April. As we were now far enough north to be clear of the 

 Kennedy and all its branches, and had not found an inland path to 

 Somerset, we resolved to cut our way down to the east coast. 

 Starting from Camp 73 we found open country for about half a 

 mile to south-east. Half a mile further to the east, hewing our 

 way through the scrub on the sand-hills, we emerged on a bog, whose 

 further side was skirted with mangroves. The bog had to be run 

 up for about a mile north-east, when we crossed to the left bank 

 of a narrow creek just above the mangroves. Another mile east, 

 through scrub and heath, brought us to the BEACH at a point bearing 

 due west from the beacon on the Z REEF, about 7 miles from 

 Somerset. About 4 p.m. we REACHED SOMERSET and were hospitably 

 welcomed by MR. FRANK JARDINE. 



Our difficulties were at an end. Our hopes of enriching the 

 Colony by finding a payable goldfield in the northern part of the 

 Peninsula had, unhappily, ended long before. A small portion 

 of the Peninsula, which the severity of the wet season rendered 

 inaccessible for the time being, still remains to be explored. MR. 

 DONALD LAING, who led a private prospecting party into the Penin- 

 sula in November last, and who has just returned to Cooktown 

 worn out and ill, entertains hopes of SEFTON CREEK, the northmost 

 point reached by him (about 13 10' S. latitude). MR. R. SEFTON 

 and a party of the Coen pioneers prospected on this creek about 

 two years ago, with but limited success. I meant to examine it 

 on the way back, had I returned overland, but taking into con- 

 sideration what I have since learned of the sterility of the country 

 between Sefton Creek and Somerset, I have no hesitation in deciding 

 that it can be reached much better by making a fresh start from 

 Cooktown an economy in time, money and horseflesh. 



A detailed account of the geological results of the expedition 

 is in preparation, and will be accompanied by a map in which the 

 geography of the Peninsula will be brought up to date. 



ROBERT L. JACK. 



BRISBANE, 2\th dpril, 1880. 



The Hon. the Minister for Mines, Brisbane. 



By Authority : James C. Beal, Government Printer, William Street, Brisbane. 



