EXPLOKING EXPEDITION. 39 



Billy to the highest point, which, by aneroid measurement, I found 

 to be 800 feet above the lake. An extensive view was now ob- 

 tained, Mount Leisler bearing 50°, the east end of the lake 50° 30', 

 the farthest point across the lake 17°, the west end of body of the 

 lake 3il°, but several reaches or arms lay beyond low hills bearing 

 33° 30', distant about 30 miles; the Gordon Hills 318°. From S. 

 20° E. to S. 40° W., low hills appeared from ten to fifteen miles dis- 

 tant, the intervening country being desert oak sandhills, showing 

 many places that have been burnt by the natives. The Daven- 

 port Hills bear from 69° 30' lo 79° which is their lowest point. 

 The rock formation of the Bonython Hills is a limestone and 

 calcareous rock, they run for nearly five miles in an east and west 

 direction and are two miles through from north to south and appear 

 to be perfectly waterless ; even the late heavy rains have been 

 absorbed, as no indications could be found of any of the little 

 gullies having had running water in them. Collected rock speci- 

 men 70, which shows formation of these hills. This morning 

 passed over a few miles of really splendid pastoral country, grass,, 

 saltbush, and mulga, with claypans full of water. No birds or 

 animals seen to-day. Occasionally saw the smoke of fires of the 

 natives, but no sign of the natives themselves. Bar. 28-425in., 

 ther. 58° at 5 p.m. I should have mentioned that this range is 

 easily seen from Mt. Leisler, both from thai point and where I first 

 struck the north shore of the lake it has a most attractive appear- 

 ance. 



Saturday, June 8th. — Camp No. 42, S. shore of Lake Macdonald. 

 Bar. 28-oObin., S. lat, 23° 35' 52", ther. 54°. Cloudy and still like 

 rain. — Much disappointed last night in fixing the position of the 

 hills ; clouds were heavy all night and as this is anything but a 

 pleasant camp we hurried away at ten past eight on a bearing 

 N. 35° E. The south side of the lake is only five or six miles ofi% 

 and I shall camp there, for I do not wish to leave this important 

 feature without fixing its position. Travelled over stony slopes- 

 covered with mulga for two miles, then entered into a desert oak 

 and sandhill country which cut short the career of any little water 

 channels that leave the range. In six miles we reached the south 

 shore of the lake, here there was abundance of camel feed, and after 

 a short search I found a claypan which wotdd meet all our require- 

 ments for one day. Being a cloudy dull day, it was most favorable 

 for observing the outline of the lake. In a northerly direction, the 

 opposite shore was just visible. East and west the distance is- 

 about the same. On a bright day this would be very much altered 

 by the " mirage of the desert sea," and as with me, when on its 

 northern shore, the Bonython Hills appeared to be an island, the 

 lake extending far beyond the reach of vision east and west of the 

 hills, so making it appear very much larger. The day was occupied 

 by me in mapping and posting up. Several of the camels have very 

 bad backs, and their saddles required attention. Saw two swamp 



