78 HORN EXPEDITION — NARRATIVE. 



cockroach wliich cluiiij; almost as closoly to tlio surface of siibnior2;o(l leavos a.s a 

 limpet to a rock. Tt was eviileutly mature and adapted to life in the water, a,ud 

 we only came across it in this one small pool. 



Unfortunately we could only spend an hour or two in this spot, which would 

 well repay a stay of several days, and if we were to reach and have any time in 

 the ma.in McDonnell R.an^e it was essential f<ir us to lose a,s little time as jiossihle, 

 more especially as it had been decided that a sm.all section of the paity was to 

 make a ilyin^' \ isit to Ayers Rock lying away to the south across the saiidhill 

 country. Had we then known what the main McDonnell Range w.is like there is 

 no doubt liut that we should base lingered longer amongst the valleys and t)y the 

 creeks on the south side of the George Gill Range. 



Close liy our camp at Reedy Ci-eek the natives liad been ornamenting the 

 rocks with diawings, the most elaborate f)f which was supposcnl to represent a 

 view seen from beneath of an Emu sitting on eggs with the characteristic, 

 conventional, three-pronged markings representing the emu tracks leading up to it. 



In making their drawings the blacks seem to usually use four colours — black 

 (charcoal), red aiul yellow ochre and v\hit(> gypsun). A fifth coloui- — pink — is 

 sometimes obtained by mixing the icd ochre with gypsum. Somewhere to the 

 south of the Levi Range is a patch of red ochi'C, which amongst the natives is a 

 valuable asset and is traded over considerable distances. 



On IGth June we divided into two parties. The main camp with all the 

 camels and stores, accompanied by Di'. Stirling, Professor Tate and Mr. Winnecke, 

 went westwards along the base of the Range. Their intention was to go first to 

 Laurie Creek, lying out to the west of Carmichael Crag, and then to push 

 northwar'ds by way of Glen Edith across the sandhill country to the western end 

 of the main McDonnells. Then following these eastwards the whole party was to 

 meet again in about a fortnight at the deserted Glen Helen Station close to 

 the base of Mounts Zeil and Sonder. The second party, on horseback and 

 etjuipped as lightly as possible, was to go .south under the leadership of Mr. E. 0. 

 Cowle across Lake Amadous and then visit and photograph Ayers Rock and if 

 pos.sible Mount Olga. This party consisted of Mr. Cowle, the leader, and Messrs. 

 Watt, Belt and myself, together with one of Mr. Cowle's black police trackers, 

 Larry ))y name. 



I gladly take this opportunity of expressing oui' appreciation of the cordial 

 manner- in which Mr Cowle fell in with our plans and aided us in our- work which 



