WHITE — A Sketch of the Life of Samuel White. 47 



was cut in the botton through which the head was passed, a 

 hole at each side was made to which sleeves of the same 

 material were attached. Before reaching Brisbane, the horse 

 and cart and many other things were disposed of and the 

 brothers went into Brisbane to ship home the valuable collec- 

 tions. After a short rest, they set out once more westward. 

 This time they had to depend on what they could carry for thej 

 intended making along the rough ranges which extended 

 down through the country they wished to explore some little 

 distance from the coast and it was impossible to take any 

 kind of conveyance. Setting out one day from Brisbane the 

 naturalists made their way into the ranges and soon found 

 themselves in very rough country. They were the first white 

 men to climb Mt. Lindsay. Before reaching the top, they had 

 to pass up several bare faces of rock by means of the creeping 

 plants that hung down. The top of the mountain is called the 

 tea-pot on account of its shape resembling the bowl and spout 

 of that well-known utensil. Under the mass of rock which 

 resembled the spout a beautiful lake was discovered upon 

 which there were many water-fowl including pelicans. Where 

 the overflow found its way down the mountain side a deep 

 channel was cut. round the opening of this channel or cavern 

 a mass of most beautiful sub-tropical vegetation grew, beauti- 

 ful flowering creepers and gigantic masses of fern, while 

 further in ferns of more delicate and exquisite shape clung to 

 the damp rocks. Outside some fine Castanospermum trees shed 

 their crimson blossoms over all. The vegetation round the 

 entrance was so thick and rank that the interior was shrouded 

 in semi-darkness. The travellers hanging to the vines and 

 creepers pushed their way into this huge slit in the face of 

 the mountain and to their surprise they saw many white spots 

 floating about in the darkness. These spots were in pairs 

 like eyes and the mystery was not cleared up till one of the ob- 

 jects was captured and it was found to be a beautiful dark blue 

 butterfly with a large white spot on each wing, the insect was 

 such a dark shade of blue that it was not discernable in the 

 dim light, only the white spots as they hovered round. After 

 securing a number of these insects, which must be lovers of 

 darkness, because they would not allow the naturalists to drive 

 them out into the light, the brothers continued on their way. 

 Having to ford rivers, which came in their way, which in some 

 instances were in flood, crossing was not made without 

 much risk to life. Many valuable notes were made 

 each c!av, as well as collecting, but the latter was much re- 



