Vol. XIV 

 1915 



"I White, Expedition to Musgrave and Everard Ranges. 1 83 



while loads were adjusted and some of our stores were left at a 

 depot to await our return. 



Once again upon the move, we made for the Chandler Range, 

 which showed up to the north-west. It is a low, rugged range, 

 with a perpendicular face on the south side and a gradual slope 

 towards the north. It was along this side we made our way, and 

 camped one night just outside the rough gorge leading to 

 Indulkana Springs. Next morning our leader, Mr. Jack, Mr. 

 Williams, and the writer took two camels with a water keg on either 

 side of each and followed the rough bed of the gorge till we came 

 to the springs. From the largest, which contained about 1,000 

 gallons of water, we filled the casks, rejoined our party, and con- 

 tinued our course to the westward. The collecting of birds, 

 botanical specimens, insects, &c., was going on all the time, but 

 the extreme dryness accounted for the scarcity in animal and 

 plant life. 



At last, one day the Musgrave Ranges, shrouded in blue and 

 purple mists, showed up in all their grandeur. For days we 

 travelled towards these ranges. Sometimes we were battling 

 amongst dense mulga scrub, and could see but a few yards ahead 

 of us ; but hardly a day passed that we did not mount some 

 sand-hill or rocky ridge from which we caught a glimpse of the 

 blue hills in the distance. The last two days before reaching 

 the ranges were very trying to man and beast, for we had to 

 plough through high spinifex {Triodia pimgens), which punished 

 the camels badly, and at other times to force our way through 

 dense mulga scrub. 



This fine range held many expectations for me, but, alas ! I 

 was much disappointed, for not a drop of water could be found. 

 We penetrated into the very heart of the range, and, not finding 

 any water, had to hurry down Glenferdinand (where we came 

 upon the marked tree of Ernest Giles, that intrepid explorer, who 

 was the first to visit the range, in i872-'3). and on to Tietkens' 

 Birthday Creek, which we followed for many miles without finding 

 a drop of the precious fluid. We had to make a forced march 

 back to the rock-hole where we had procured the last water. 

 From this base many attempts were made by flying trips into 

 the range to discover water, but all failed. During the absence 

 of our leader on one of these flying trips in search of water I was 

 compelled to fall back with the main party on water still further 

 back, because our depot water had nearly given out. We, how- 

 ever, left enough in the hole to carry on our leader and his com- 

 panion after us. During all this time I was able to add to my 

 collection of plants and animals. 



Finding it a hopeless job. on account of the drought, to get 

 back into the Musgrave Ranges, our leader shaped his course 

 more to the south. Penetrating a dense mulga scrub, we at last 

 found ourselves amongst the very picturesque Everard Ranges. 

 Huge masses of red granite rose up on every side. Acres and 

 acres of the huge dome-shaped hills were destitute of all vege- 



