32 CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN 



Mount Leisler. The native population must be very small indeed, 

 as not a A r estige of a camp has been seen anywhere. The high 

 mountain visited to-day, which is northerly about four miles from 

 Mount Leisler, I named Mount Strickland, after Sir Edward 

 Strickland, the president of the New South Wales Branch of the 

 Royal Geographical Society of Australasia; it is 1,200ft. above 

 the surrounding plain. Warman was also unsuccessful in his 

 search for water. We may therefore conclude that this range is 

 absolutely waterless. Our kegs have been filled from a rain water- 

 hole on the south side of Mount Leisler, but the supply is not suffi- 

 cient for our requirements for a week at any time. Light rain 

 commenced to fall on my return to camp ; put the saddles under a 

 tarpaulin, for there is every indication of a wet night. 



Wednesday, May 29th — Camp No. 35, Kintore Range, foot of 

 Mount Leisler. — A steady rain fell all night, and at daylight 

 heavy showers fell at intervals. As there is no appearance of the 

 weather clearing up ; there is nothing to do but make everything 

 as snug as possible and wait till the rain ceases. Our tent accom- 

 modation is not of the best, but with props aud stays we endeavor 

 to keep ourselves and provisions dry — though by no means suc- 

 cessful with regard to ourselves. At nightfall the cadences of 

 the wind, as alternately they pass gently and mournfully by the 

 mountain over us, and in other moods of fury and rage the} 7 

 scream and roar around its rugged weather-beaten cliffs, do not 

 cheer us in our present situation ; and if we accept the position of 

 the huge boulders around its base as evidence of the fury of the 

 storms frequenting this spot, then the elements do not rage in vain : 

 but we are satisfied with the present surroundings, without wishing 

 for ocular demonstration of such phenomenal disturbances. 



Thursday, May 30th. — Bar. 28-075in., ther. 58°. —Furious 

 squalls of wind and heavy rain beat against our slender shelter 

 nearly the whole night. The surroundings of the camp at day- 

 light were dismal — mud and puddles everywhere, the fire a black- 

 ened beaten-out heap of ash, and still raining. At last a fire was 

 made, and a pot of hot tea having been passed round which with 

 a warm at the fire cheered us up a little, although there is no pos- 

 possibility of getting away to day. The rain continued until 4 p.m. 

 Mount Leisler and the hills around have been enveloped in fog, 

 mist, and rain for two days. An estimate of the rainfall may be 

 gathered from the fact that a 21b meat tin (Conrad's), measuring 

 4in. diameter and 5^in. deep, had caught 2f in. of water. Notwith- 

 standing our well chosen position, the rain found its way amongst 

 our provisions, but altogether no special damage was done. The 

 camels have benefited by the few days' rest upon the very luxuriant 

 grass flat at this camp. 



Friday, May 31st. — Camp No 36, sandhills at south end of low- 

 hills. Bar. 28 - 2l0in., ther. 60°, bright, fine, and clear. — Every- 

 thing out drying this morning, and upon this and other accounts 



