722 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



The creek on which Camp 42 was pitched appears to be con- 

 siderably (say 8 miles) north of the position assigned to " Surprise 

 Creek " by the " Sketch-map prepared at the Geological Survey 

 Office." 



On 20th August, Dick, Sheffield and the two boys returned to 

 Camp 41, where Dickie had been left. The latter had been busy 

 prospecting for auriferous reefs. The following day the party 

 returned to CAMP 37 (" Valley of Hills Camp "). 



Accompanied by the two boys, Dick and Sheffield left Camp 37 

 on 22nd August, camping the same night on ALBERT CREEK (CAMP 

 43), and on 237-^ on ARTHUR CREEK (CAMP 44). I am unable to 

 locate these creeks. Albert Creek, which was in a scrub, gave 

 GOLD which just fell short of being payable. Dick reckoned that 

 " a good hand might make 2 dwt. a day sluicing." Arthur Creek 

 was reached by crossing Surprise Creek, and gave about 3 grains of 

 GOLD to 5 dishes : " a man might make 2 dwt. a day." 



On 2^.th August, led by the boys, Dick and Sheffield made for 

 " the range," and ascended a very steep spur and camped, apparently 

 still in the drainage area of Albert Creek. 



ATTAVA CREEK (which I am unable to locate) was prospected 

 on 25th August, and only gave " colours " of GOLD. The country 

 was scrubby, but a sandalwood TRACK was found. 



On 26th August, via Camps 43 and 44, the party returned to 

 the " VALLEY OF HILLS CAMP " (No. 37). 



The FLOUR at this main camp was now EXHAUSTED, and the beef 

 was nearly finished. The black boys, however, supplied the table, 

 to some extent, with scrub hens and their eggs and a cassowary 

 chicken. Dickie rode to Dodd and Preston's camp, returning on 

 28th August with flour. Sheffield and a black boy started on the 

 29th for the Mein and returned on 8th September with a load of 

 rations which had been left at the Telegraph station. DICKIE 

 was out prospecting for reefs and brought to the camp several 

 specimens of QUARTZ SHOWING GOLD. 



After Sheffield's return, Dickie and Dick rode out to " some 

 gullies north of Hays Creek" (i.e., NORTH OF DODD CREEK), " under 

 Adam Range " (Heights). " Got colours in over half a dozen 

 gullies and in the reefs, but nothing payable." They also got a 

 "half-grain prospect" in Hays (i.e., DODD) CREEK. 



On i^th September, Dick and Sheffield set out, accompanied 

 by the two black boys. Crossing ridges and deep gullies and cutting 

 through scrubs, they came on SURPRISE CREEK about 2 miles higher 

 than where they had surprised the boys on I9th August (which 

 was near Camp 42). Here, again, they got " colours " of GOLD, 

 and they saw a TRACK which the boys informed them had been cut 

 some years ago by POLICE-SERGEANT WHELAN, who failed to get 

 through, and had to return. The scrub here was much troubled 

 with the thorny " lawyer vine " and had many bamboos. 



