124 HORN EXPEDITION — NAIiKATlVE. 



Hat — tli(j lloiu Vallt'y — and then, foUuvviiig up a branch of tliu Hugh, passed 

 througli the. ridge bounding the vaUey on the north, the ridges being cut through 

 liere by one or two dry gorges. Emerging from one of these narrow gorges we 

 found ourselves on a plain perhajjs three-quarters of a mile wide running east and 

 west with masses of gnci.ssic rock pixijecting here and there. To the north of us 

 lay the McDonnells proper and the plain along which we travelled eastward was 

 evidently continuous with that which lay at the base of Mount Sonder and on 

 which we had previously camped at the junction of the Davenport and Redbank 

 Creek. 



After about two miles easy traver.sc we came to the Hugh River and halted 

 for an hour by the side ui a small water hole just close to where the Hugh runs in 

 a deep gorge through the ridge on the north of the Horn Valley. 



We were I'ather surprised to find camel tracks — evidently recent ones in the 

 sand by the side of the water-hole. They could only have been made by Mr. 

 Watt's party, as no one else was likely to be travelling in the district, and our 

 black l)(_>y said that they were only a day or two old. 



Our dilliculties now began as we wanted to find some way in which to pass 

 through the ranges to the north of us. After a short halt we travelled eastwards 

 hoping to iind a way I'ound the base of Mount Conway, but finding this 

 impi'acticable we retraced our steps anil followed the Hugh. The country was 

 rough and rocky and )jy no means easy work for camels, but after some; few miles 

 we came to a good water-hoh;, and late in the afternoon camped in a most 

 picturesque sjjot just to the south of Paisley Rlulf. This water-hole was in a gap 

 in a range flanking the main one. 



The main liranch of the Hugh ran eastwards from our camp for half a nnle in 

 the valley between us and the high ridge, from which I'ose in front of us Paisley 

 l>lutr, and to the north-east Brinkley Dluil'. We made our camp, sleeping as usual 

 in the open on the soft sand of the creek bctl. In the gum trees the " mopokes " 

 {NiiUKX boobook) were calling to one another, and as it was bright moonlight we 

 coukl see the dingos sneaking round our camp, but our presence and camp tire 

 evidently prevented them from coming to water. 



As this would l)e <nu- last chance of collecting in the ranges we determined to 

 spell for a day. Early next morning we were out collecting, ;}.nd followed up a 

 brancli creek to the base of Paisley Rluti'. It ran through a narrow gorge at the 

 western base of the Blutl'. The bed was strewn with rocks of various sizes, 



