130 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



weak in consequence. However, by nightfall the camp was 

 pretty secure, and next day, with the assistance of an islander 

 hunter and his two horses, everything was under canvas, the 

 rain notwithstanding. 



Saturday, 5th. — Settling down, and short excursions took 

 place. More rain in the afternoon and evening ; 89 points 

 were registered at the lighthouse. 



Monday, 7th. — The camp formed into sections. First. — 

 One by Professor Spencer, Messrs. Chandler, Cornwall, A. J. 

 Campbell, Frost, Le Souef, Sayer, Chisholm, and Wood 

 together, with Grave as guide, two horses as packs, and a pack 

 of ten or twelve dogs to hunt wallaby for fresh victuals, left 

 camp shortly after 7 a.m. Crossing the mouth of the Yellow 

 Rock rivulet, the beach was followed. At about two miles 

 turned inland, and coursed slowly in a north-easterly direction, 

 over hummocks fairly grassed and patched with miserable 

 scrubs. Passed several lagoons on the right, the largest 

 rejoicing in the name of Bob's. At about six miles took 

 an easterly course through what is locally known as the 

 Reedy Flats — well named reedy, with seemingly no end of 

 moisture and melaleuca swamps. During the morning snakes 

 were " trumps," no less than eight being killed or captured. 

 Mid-day halt and meal occurred in rain at about ten miles. It 

 rained more or less during the remainder of the day. Course 

 now more southerly. After wading knee-deep through Martha 

 Lavinia Lagoon (the larger), and threading thicker scrubs, the 

 east coast was struck between Boulder and Lavinia Points. 

 Following the beach, and then journeying inland over low, 

 "bracken-covered hummocks in a south-westerly direction, 

 at about twenty miles " Bertie" (a hunter's old camp) was 

 made. The small hut, built of parts of many wrecks, held a 

 portion of the party, while the tent was pitched to accommo- 

 date the balance. After supper all were rendered as comfortable 

 as circumstances — the rain — would permit for the night. 



By morning the rain had cleared. Messrs. Sayer and Chis- 

 holm elected to remain at " Bertie," while the remainder 

 explored southward. A good, sandy beach, with low tide, was 

 followed. At about ten miles forded the Sea Elephant River, 

 and lunched ; country improving, more forest-like here. At 

 between thirteen and fourteen miles crossed Blow-hole Creek, 

 erroneously indicated on the Admiralty charts as the Fraser 

 River. At about sixteen miles made half a mile inland to 

 another hunter's old camp (" Eldorado ") on an ever-flowing 

 creek, which was named Spencer, after Professor Spencer, who 

 unconsciously made himself one of the most popular members 

 of the expedition. With clearing weather, an enjoyable 

 evening's camp was spent, excepting by those members who 

 were violently disturbed by camping upon a bulldog ants' nest. 



