64 CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN 



this is possibly Ayers' Range. Billy, who is now in his native 

 land, tells me there are "many pretty places there," and that there 

 is a trig, station on one of the hills. Continued on until 4 - 30, 

 having travelled twenty-one miles, for the most part through flat 

 mulga scrub country with coarse grass. Billy also tells me that 

 we shall not meet with any more spinifex, which is indeed joyful 

 news. Bar. 28-400in., ther. 68° at 5 p.m. 



Monday, August 5th. — Camp No. 76. Bar. 29-310in., ther. 

 42°. — Last night was mild and pleasant, a most agreeable change 

 from the biting frosts that we have experienced of late. Started 

 upon a bearing of S. 68° E. After travelling for six miles through 

 dense, though exceedingly well-grassed mulga scrubs, we emerged 

 into more open country, rich in every variety of pasture. From 

 the top of a low sandstone ridge that was here met with I obtained 

 a more extensive view of the eastern horizon than I have had for 

 a long time. North-easterly is a line of hiils of considerable height, 

 though apparently of no great extent. Upon abearing of S. 55° E. I 

 observe some masses of bare red rock, apparently granite, and I 

 decided to visit them with the hope of finding some feature of value 

 and interest; travelled over flat, well-clothed pastoral country, 

 which is now looking its very best. Bright flowers blossom all 

 around : their varied hues and delicate tints present a brilliant and 

 ever-varying panorama of splendour. It was a scene specially 

 attractive to us, so long accustomed to the sombre and irritating 

 spinifex. In six miles we were close to the rocks, and here the 

 growth of grass, crowfoot, and other plants was most luxuriant ; 

 eclipsing all by the brilliance of their blossom was the vetch, a pea 

 so plentiful in the Musgrave Ranges, and which here grows in 

 large patches of an acre or two. In color the flower is a bright 

 carmine, and forms quite a feature in the appearance of the land- 

 scape. The camels while walking on them snatch up huge mouth- 

 fuls as opportunities offer. Arriving at the rocks I found many 

 traces of blacks, but no water. Turned south for half a mile to 

 examine another mass of bare granite. Before I had time to get 

 near it Billy, who was on ahead on foot, had found all there was to 

 find, and that was a fair-sized rock hole containing sufficient for 

 our night's requirements, and to replenish the kegs. The camels 

 have been tied up every night since leaving Erldunda, and were 

 entitled to a little consideration, so they were let go upon such 

 feed that it has never been their lot to graze upon since we have 

 had them. Camped at 335, having travelled eighteen miles. Bar. 

 28-160in., ther. 73° at 5 p.m. 



Tuesday, August 6th. — Camp No. 77. Bar. 28-175in., ther. 48°. 

 — Started at 7*45 on a bearing of S. 88° E. Travelled over well- 

 grassed flat mulga country for five miles, then turned S. 65° E.; 

 and in nine miles upon this bearing struck a small water course 

 with a few gumtrees on its banks. I noticed that there was a 

 quantity of soda on the sand in the creek channel, which led me 



