56 CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN 



Tuesday, July 9th.— Camp No. 62. Bar. 28-300in., ther. 32°, 

 calm, bright, and fine. — Started away at 8 a.m., Ayers Rock being 

 five or six miles away. Travelled over sandy flats covered with, 

 mulga scrub, passing occasional spinifex sandhills, and soon reached 

 the grass flats at the foot of the rock. Passed round the south 

 base of this mountain of unbroken, unfractured stone. At 11*30 I 

 unsaddled upon the spot where I camped fifteen years ago, when 

 here with Giles. After dinner we went out to explore and admire 

 this wonder in solid granite. Many and varied are the wonderful 

 shapes it assumes. In one place the graceful curves and lines 

 upon this vast expanse of rock resemble an enormous curtain 

 turned into stone. In one or two places large caves are to be 

 found near the foot, and these in a measure spoil the otherwise 

 regular and graceful lines chiselled by nature upon its face. The 

 rock formation is a coarse-grained grey granite, the surface all 

 over bearing a reddish color from exposure to the elements, 

 smooth as glass, and almost polished. It appears to me to be 

 quite inaccessible, except at the one point where Mr. Gosse 

 and his companions made the ascent. Bar. 28375in., ther. 62° 

 at 5 p.m. 



Wednesday, July 10th. — Camp No. 62. Ayers' Rock. Bar. 

 28"555in., ther. 36°, a keen easterly wind. — To-day I made a 

 diligent search for Mr. Gosse's marked tree, taking Billy with 

 me. For two hours or more we wandered about, closely exam- 

 ining every tree. I remember it was an unusually large blood- 

 wood, but its exact locality I could not recollect; but quite close 

 to his camp I saw the charred stump of such a tree, and upon 

 the ground was observed a long line of ash and charcoal, and it 

 became evident beyond doubt that this was Mr. Gosse's tree. At 

 the time of the fire there must have been a very high wind, for 

 its destruction is most complete, not a twig or spray being left. 

 Being such a large tree, it was probably in some part a little 

 decayed, and this would accelerate the work of destruction. I was 

 sorry for its loss, as it would have been interesting to have com- 

 pared the overgrowth with that from Glen Edith. Bar. 28*430in., 

 ther. 62° at 4 p.m. Rock specimens Nos. 85 to 88 collected. 



Thursday, July llth. — Camp No. 62, Ayers' Rock. Bar. 

 28 - 600in., ther. 48°. — Strong, variable, and very cold winds, 

 cloudy. Took several photographic views of the Rock. Collect- 

 ing specimens. 



Friday, July 12tk. — Camp No. 63. Bar. 28-600in., ther. 48°. — 

 Cold easterly wind. Started away towards Mount Connor, on a 

 bearing of 98°, at 9 a.m. Soon after starting one of the camels, 

 ** Moochar," went dead lame, had to slow down all day to give him 

 a chance: it seems to be a contraction of the back sinews, he is a 

 grnnd camel, and I trust he is not going to lay up ; their loads now 

 are very light indeed, so that cannot be the cause of it. Travelled 

 fifteen miles. Bar. 28"55in., ther. 54° at 5 p.m. 



