40 CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN 



hawks and one crow ; no animal life. The lake I estimate to be 

 about fifteen or eighteen miles east and west, and about twelve miles 

 from north to south ; of course this does not include the miles of 

 arms thrown out from its western side. The water in the lake 

 is apparently very shallow, no streams whatever run into it. Having 

 now satisfied myself of the insularity of this lake, I named it Lake 

 Macdonald, after Mr. A. C. Macdonald, the energetic secretary 

 of the Victorian branch of the Royal Geographical Society of 

 Australasia. Bar. 28'725in., ther. 62° at 5 p.m. (at level of bed of 

 lake). 



Sunday, June 9th.— Camp No. 43. Bar 28-760in., ther. 46° (at 

 level of lake bed). — Left this camp at 8-45 a.m. to trace the lake 

 to its eastern limits, which, to judge from appearances, cannot 

 be far, but appearances here are rather delusive. Taking up an 

 easterly course we travelled for four miles on its south shore, the 

 lake here being but a quarter of a mile in width. Here it abruptly 

 ended, and we were face to face with the high spinifex sandhills 

 and forests of well grown desert oaks. I had now travelled the 

 three sides of the lake, the south side having no samphire swamps 

 or marsh land on its boundary, whilst the eastern side appears to be 

 bounded by spinifex sandhills. Having arrived at the eastern 

 extremity of the lake I now determined to proceed in search of 

 Lake Amadeus, and altering my course S. 82° E. I was also anxious 

 to determine the position of a range of hills which I had named 

 the Davenport Hills. The sandhills here which are high for- 

 tunately tended in an east and west direction, so that we were 

 able to keep in the valleys. At about nine miles, and from the 

 top of a high sandhill, Mount Leisler bore N. 26° E., and the 

 north end of the Davenport Hills N. 50° E. From this point the 

 country opened out into spinifex plains with an occasional sandhill, 

 the forests of desert oak fell away into occasional clumps, and 

 with the exception of a few stunted acacias and banksias the land- 

 scape was white with the long bleached straw stems of the spinifex. 

 This continued to the foot of the hills which we reached in about 

 sixteen miles from our camp on the lake. Ascending a little hill I 

 obtained a view to the east and south, observing a line of low hills 

 to the eastward I continued on the same course to reach them. 

 Passed over the same open spinifex country, and camped at 4-40 

 p.m. amongst a few oaks and bloodwood trees. There was but 

 scanty feed for the camels, and at 7 o'clock they were brought up 

 for the night. Saw the smoke of two fires to-day but no sign of 

 the natives. The Davenport Hills which I visited to-day are about 

 500ft. above the plain, and are a very prominent feature, being 

 about eight miles long from east to west. Rock specimen No. 71 

 collected from these hills. Estimated distance travelled, nineteen 

 miles. Bar. 28-525in., ther. 68° at 5 p.m. 



Monday, June \0th.— Camp No. 44. Bar. 28-525in.. ther. 62° 

 at sunrise. — A few smart showers fell during the night, and at 



