EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 31 



the highest point in that range I have named after David Lindsay, 

 Esq., F.R.G.S., the Northern Territory explorer. The ascent of 

 Mount Leisler occupied over two hours, though both Warman and 

 Weei accomplished both the ascent and descent in far less time than 

 I did. I notice again with surprise the presence of swamp hawks, 

 or bromley kites, about our camp. I have always been under the 

 impression that they only frequented well watered country, I have 

 certainly never met with them away from it. With feelings of 

 bitter disappointment I retraced my steps to the camp. My 

 wanderings through dreary and desolate regions to find the goal of 

 my long cherished hopes in a still more desolate waste was a sad 

 frustration that I had little anticipated. 1 omitted to mention an 

 important range of hills that was observed from the summit of 

 Mount Leisler, they bore 178° and were distant about fifteen 

 miles ; these I named the Davenport Hills, after Sir Samuel Daven- 

 port, K C.M.G., &c, president of the South Australian Branch of 

 the Royal Geographical Society. 



Tuesday, May 2*lh — Camp No. 35, Kintore Range, foot of 

 Mount Leisler. Bar 28'330in., ther. 58°. Weather cloudy and 

 dull, with N.E. wind. — I am loth to leave this range without 

 making a further examination to ascertain whether any permanent 

 water exists here. Instead of starting to-day as I intended, I sent 

 Warman and Weei in a southerly direction, whilst Billy and I 

 proceeded to the north. We travelled over the stony slorjes of 

 Mount Leisler ; for two miles these are covered with dense mulga 

 scrub, which made our travelling tedious and slow, we then emerged 

 into an open valley with bloodwoods and a few white gums, this 

 raised my hopes for it appeared like a watercourse, which it was, 

 but perfectly dry. A few small grass patches of an acre or two 

 were now met with, surrounded with spinifex. The watercourse 

 where we left it appeared to be trending towards the lake, but it 

 is doubtful if it extends so far ; the probabilities are that, when 

 its waters flow, they are lost in the sea of sand. Leaving the dry 

 creek we turned easterly to examine a high range, 1,200ft. above 

 the plain ; we reached its western base in two miles, and travel- 

 led along its northen slopes for two miles; a few little runnels full 

 of stones leave its almost perpendicular sides, but there is no for- 

 mation whatever for holding water ; both here and at Mount 

 Leisler the stones are shivered by some convulsion of nature, 

 apparently at no very remote period, into fragments that are now 

 to be found at their base, the water falling percolates through 

 these and is lost for ever, though, doubtless, it fulfils more im- 

 portant designs beneath the surface, which we cannot comprehend. 

 We returned to the camp at 4 p.m., having ridden all day over 

 most dreary and desolate country. The natives visit this place ap- 

 parently to light their signal fires, the great height above the 

 surrounding country being particularly favorable for such opera- 

 tions — the remains of some are to be found right on the summit of 



