EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 43 



In three miles sighted what I have always called Blood's Range ; 

 this range was seen from Camp 31. It has a bold and imposing 

 outline from this point, with a gap or pass at its eastern end. 

 The western portion of the range, which forms one side of this 

 pass, is by far the highest peak. From this point we lost sight of 

 everything, and appeared to enter at once into a low-lying tract 

 of sandhill country, with oaks and spinifex. It was in vain I 

 ascended the highest sandhills that lay near our line of march, the 

 line of vision being intercepted in less than a mile. We passed 

 the whole day in forests of oak and spinifex. The country 

 seemed to be swept of every kind of bush ; the white stalks of 

 the spinifex contrasting strangely with the tall straight dark 

 stems and foliage of the oaks. The sandhills were low and some- 

 what distant from each other, and the ground being tolerably 

 level, we made about twenty-one miles. Camped at 5 p.m. without 

 feed or water for the camels, so they were tied up all night. No 

 animals or birds of any description were seen to-day, our route 

 being through the centre of Lake Amadeus, as now shown on the 

 maps. Bar. 28'450in., ther. 72° at 5 p.m. 



Thursday, June 13th. — Camp No. 46. Bar. 28'580in., ther. 58° 

 at sunrise. — Last night was threatening and cloudy, with a shifting 

 wind. A few showers fell — just sufficient to make us turn out and 

 cover up our belongings. Started away on a bearing of S. 46° E., 

 the sandhills running east and west, with wide valleys between 

 them. In nine nnles turned S. 30° E. Here the sandhills became 

 higher and more confused, with poison bush everywhere. At 

 sixteen miles from last camp crossed some small samphire swamps; 

 at seventeen miles passed a saltpan on the east side of which were 

 some claypans with water in them. Wishing to make a good day's 

 stage, these were passed. From the appearance of the country I 

 anticipated meeting with more, and that probably I was approach- 

 ing the western extremity of Lake Amadeus. At this point the 

 sandhill formation ceased, and flat sandy country with grass, salt- 

 bush, and mulga were passed over. Here there were quondong, 

 prickly acacia, and quite a patch of good country for stock, but 

 apparently quite waterless. At 4 - 30 camped, having travelled 

 twenty-one miles. Upon such good country I deemed it safe to let 

 the camels go for the night. I was anxious to obtain an observa- 

 tion for latitude, but the night turned out cloudy, as, indeed, it 

 had been all day. Bar. 28'650in., ther. 62°. 



Friday, June 14th.— Camp No. 47. Bar. 28-600in., ther. 52°. 

 Light southerly wind, light clouds. — My riding camel, " Tooroo," 

 made a mistake last night and wandered away by himself. This 

 caused considerable delay, and I did not start from this very 

 pleasant camp until 10 o'clock. Taking up a bearing of S. 15° E., 

 we continued over well-grassed saltbush and mulga flats for two 

 miles, when we again entered into spinifex and oak sandhills 

 entirely destitute of any other vegetation. It is over such tracts 



