EXPEDITION IN McILWRAITH RANGE 629 



another traverse of the Mcllwraith Range, probably between 

 ATTACK and IRVINE CREEKS, continues : 



" Crossed next morning and ran eastward [They must have camped on the SW. 

 side of the river. R. L. J.] till we could go on no further for SCRUB. All made country ; 

 fine pine trees growing on the highest ridges, loo feet high l artistically hung with 

 lawyers, supplejacks, and all the tormentors known to prospectors. Got through a 

 heavy patch of SCRUB, with much difficulty, and found OUR OLD TRACKS again. The 

 BLACKS made their appearance, but did not molest us. Went on a little further, and 

 camped. 



" As soon as I got into the camp, I made for the highest hill, and I could trace the 

 PEACH RIVER running right into the main ARCHER [i.e., he, correctly, surmised that the 

 Peach and Archer were the same river. R. L. J.]. On arriving at the camp, we found 

 we had lost our knives and sundries. Messrs. Small and Turner went in search of 

 them, and were out all night ; arrived in the morning ; no success. Saw lots of 

 BLACKS fine stalwart men, but they did not offer to interfere, so we left well alone, 

 they directing us to a gap in the ridge. Had we fired at them it would have been 

 impossible for us to escape, as we were hemmed in. 



" Came back about 3 miles and crossed a saddle and got into a flat country. Still 

 anxious to cut Jack's track, we proceeded eastward, and came across SEFTON AND 

 PARTY'S LAST CAMP, where we camped. [They must have been all the time north of 

 the track of my party's first expedition. We did not see this camp of Sefton's. R. L. J.] 



" Started next morning. Kept going east, until SCRUB became very heavy, through 

 low, sandy country. Resolved to RETURN and catch the old crossing of the Archer. 

 Camped. 



" Next morning ran old course, S.JE., until we came to scrubby point. We then 

 resolved to run south to strike the Coen, 10 miles down. Crossed the various rivers 

 mentioned on our outward trip till we arrived back again on the COEN, just as the 

 WET SEASON SET IN properly. We remained here during the wet. Thinking the weather 

 had broken up, I resolved to return to Cooktown, leaving the rations with Messrs. 

 Turner, Small and Soldier Jim, taking only sufficient to enable Stewart and myself 

 to RETURN TO COOKTOWN. [This was probably on $oth December, 1879, on which 

 date, as recorded in the diary of my second expedition, the wet season set in, my party 

 being then at Camp I7A, on a head of the Peach River, 22 miles NE. of the Coen 

 Township. R. L. J.] 



" Thus ended our unsuccessful and unprofitable trip. I was disappointed in my 

 expectations of the party chosen. We did not pull well together, and were therefore 

 unable to accomplish what I intended and expected, but it cannot now be helped. 

 I did my best for the public and myself, and I am the greatest sufferer. 



" My candid opinion is that a belt of auriferous country exists north of Sefton 

 River [what he called Sefton River, probably Beetle Creek. R. L. J.], and a party 

 going out in May would probably find a payable field. The country was too dry 

 when we visited it to do any good. Had there been water we would not have left. 

 Yet at the same time I would not advise any private party to go out unless assisted 

 by Government. We considered it unsafe to stay there during the wet season, as the 

 country was bad enough in dry weather to travel. It is probable that if Mr. Jack's 

 party comes across that country they will find payable gold, as they will have plenty 

 of water. [We touched on the country referred to, and, although we got prospects 

 of GOLD, we were unsuccessful because the wet season gave us more than enough of 

 water. R. L. J.] 



'* My experience has taught me that when we started it was the worst possible 

 time to have chosen, as during the wet the flies were something terrific, we having to 



\ On my second expedition, I noted (26th December, 1879), on the divide of the 

 oinsula near the head of Christmas Creek, a crown of large Maryborough, or " Hoop " 



