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goyderi) ; there are only three or four skins of this bird known 

 to science. Travelling amidst these high ranges the nights 

 at this time of the year (August) were bitterly cold; the 

 thermometer registered on more than one occasion the mini- 

 mum of cold, 10° Fh. We came to a fine waterhole called 

 the Jay, situated on a creek of the same name ; and from here 

 we made for Simpson Gap, which is a fine sight, with a 

 large pool of very cold water of great depth situated right in 

 the gap. The ranges were more broken here, but still trend- 

 ing to the east. Soon after this we arrived at Alice Springs 

 Telegraph Station and received a hearty welcome from Mr. 

 and Mrs. McKay, Mr. McKay being the superintendent in 

 charge. We rested here for two days and refitted. During 

 this time we visited Emily Gap and saw the sacred paintings 

 of the natives; no female is allowed to see these paintings. 

 We once more started off to the east, and passed by Undoolya 

 station and the mountain of the same name standing out 

 to the south. We passed between high ridges, the strata of 

 which stood on end. The country became very broken, but 

 the ranges could be easily defined continuing to the eastward. 

 Making for Mount Benstead we crossed much rough and 

 broken ground covered in low scrub. From here we bore in 

 the direction of Bitter Spring. There is some fine scenery 

 in this neighbourhood, and in a good season it would look 

 very nice no doubt. A little later on the country changed 

 and became very miserable; passing over Paddy Plain we 

 reached Arltunga, but stayed only for a few minutes at 

 Kangaroo Well. Our course now took us through weird and 

 miserable country on to the Hale River, the banks of which 

 are covered by a thick fringe of fine gums. 



Following the Hale for some time we struck out to the 

 Hart Mountains, but found the country so barren and dry 

 "that we came in to the Hale again. Above Ruby Gap we 

 left the bed of the river and climbed over a high range and 

 then descended into the same river on the south side. I 

 took the opportunity of visiting Ruby Gap, where photographs 

 were obtained. The rubies lay banked up on the sides of 

 the river bed, and our camels scuffed through them for some 

 "time. From here we took a more easterly course and followed 

 a rocky range which obstructed our course south. At last 

 we found a gap, in which was situated a fine waterhole, over- 

 shadowed by a high-pointed peak. Numbers of ducks were 

 upon this water. Next day, having filled up our watercasks, 

 we started south, and found we had made too much to the 

 east. After finding my position we soon made back to the 

 Hale, and followed down its bed, intending to push our way 

 through to Charlotte Waters. After our fourth day in 



