I2i6 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



four hundred and fourteen miles from the entrance. It was estimated that the River sent 

 down a volume of water at thirty miles from tidal influence sufficient to supply the present 

 population of the globe with one hundred and twenty gallons of water every twenty-four 

 hours. The expedition explored the coast from the Fly River to the Dutch boundary, 

 and examined the Kawa Kuss-a River. The Mai Kuss-a and Wassi Kuss-a were found to 

 be arms of the sea and not rivers. A new river was discovered falling into Heath Bay 

 and named the Morehead. It was ascended for one hundred and twenty miles, and is 

 reported to be better suited for navigation than any river met with in the Possession. 



Mr. H. O. Forbes, author of " Wanderings of a Naturalist in the Malay Archi- 

 pelago," came to New Guinea in 1885, and made large botanical and ethnological 

 collections. He resided at Sogeri, in the Astrolabe Range, and mapped the whole of 

 the country between it and Port Moresby. He penetrated to the base of Mount Owen 

 Stanley, some days' journey farther than any previous traveller. In 1887, Messrs. Burns, 

 Philp and Co., sent on a tour of exploration their steamer Victory, under the leadership 

 of Mr. T. Bevan. They ascended what was previously known as the Aird River, and 

 made some important discoveries. In the same year the Victorian branch of the 

 Australasian Society sent Mr. W. R. Cuthbertson to New - Guinea, and he ascended 

 Mount Obree, of the Owen Stanley Range, reaching a height of eight thousand feet, 

 a much higher altitude than had been attained by previous explorers, but thick rainy 

 weather prevented his ascertaining with certainty that he had reached the summit. 



Mount Owen Stanley, the highest mountain of the Range of that name, was 

 ascended by Sir William MacGregor in June, 1889, and re-named by him Mount Victoria. 

 Sir William left Port Moresby on the 2oth of April, and ascended and explored the 

 Vanapa River. Having satisfied himself that it was possible ^to conduct an expedition 

 of sufficient magnitude up the Vanapa River and find a way into the interior, he sent 

 one of his officers to Port Moresby for stores and native carriers. On the i /th of 

 May, the re-organized party for the ascent of the Mountain started from the camp on 

 the Vanapa River, and on the iith of June Sir William MacGregor stood on the top 

 of Mount Owen Stanley. Forty-two persons started from camp, but six only really 

 reached the summit. The three Europeans who accompanied the Administrator remained 

 in camp at an altitude of nine thousand feet, and most of the native carriers also 

 remained there. The reduced party consisted of Sir \Villiam, Mr. George Belford, a 

 half-caste Samoan, two Polynesians and six Papuans. The height of the highest peak 

 of Mount Victoria was made at thirteen thousand one hundred and twenty-one feet, 

 which is very near the estimated height (thirteen thousand two hundred and five feet), 

 given on the Admiralty charts. Sir William MacGregor and his companions camped two 

 nights on the Mountain's top, and traversed the whole length of the summit from south- 

 east to north-west. No trees were found on the Mountain within one thousand five 

 hundred feet of the summit, and but few bushes within one thousand feet. The sky was 

 blue and cloudless. In the early morning the ground was white with frost, and icicles 

 were seen, an inch in diameter, and seven or eight inches long. In the middle of the 

 day when the sun was shining the thermometer rose to seventy degrees. Several 

 varieties of daisies, buttercups, forget-me-nots, etc., were found, and among the few birds 

 seen was a lark. From the top of the Mountain the north coast could be discerned. 



