EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 29 



of the range and a broad valley which I could see was clothed with 

 spinifex. Ascending a hill 1 obtained a view to the westward round 

 to south, but no sign of any watercourse to reward my eager gaze. 

 Returned to the camp after a two hours ramble with feelings of 

 bitter disappointment ; it was too late to attempt the ascent of the 

 main range. A few small gullies I had crossed, in which I eagerly 

 searched for water, expecting to find running streams, were, with 

 the exception of two small pools, quite dry. This range was sighted 

 from camp 30 and from its height, apparent extent, and imposing 

 appearance, I naturally anticipated it would give birth to a series 

 of creeks that would run into Lake Amadeus. The question now 

 arises, which way shall I proceed ? From my hurried view of the 

 horizon to the west there appeared to be no inducement to travel 

 westward. From the summit of the range to-morrow I anticipate 

 a very extensive view, and shall be guided in a great measure by 

 what I then see. Where we are camped there are about twenty 

 acres of beautiful pasture land, and it seems as if we had been 

 guided to the only spot where any fertility exists. Fred. Warman 

 in his rambles amongst the rocks discovered a little stream running 

 for a few yards, from which we hope to fill our kegs, so that all 

 anxiety for water is now over. Distance travelled to-day about 

 twelve miles through dwarf mallee, banksias, and acacias from four 

 to six feet in height, with occasional clumps of mulga and a few 

 dwarf oaks. Bar. 28 - 410in., ther. 68° at 5 p.m. 



Monday, May 27th. — Camp No. 35. Bar. 28"420in., ther. 51°. 

 — The morning broke cloudy and threatening with a strong; north- 

 easterly cold wind. At 9 - 20 a.m. started to make the ascent of the 

 mountain, taking Warman and Billy. Weei followed from choice, 

 and so did Warman' s little dog. Walking for a mile over the stonv 

 slopes at the base of the range we came to an almost precipitous 

 ravine, which being the only place accessible, without walking 

 another mile or two along the base, I decided to tr_y this The 

 ravine was a mass of enormous boulders that had fallen from the 

 cliffs many hundreds of feet above us ; two or three monsters con- 

 taining some thousands of tons each had, from their excessive 

 weight, rolled far into the valley below. During our ascent pines 

 were met with, growing and apparently thriving amidst the 

 wreckage. Gazing up at the precipitous and almost overhanging 

 masses of rugged and broken cliffs, dozens of huge pieces seemed 

 ready at any moment to fall and overwhelm us. Two little pools 

 of water were met with whilst ascending, but, if permanent, they 

 can be of no use to anything but birds. On reaching the top of 

 the ravine and looking down it appeared dangerously steep. From 

 here a more gentle gradient led us to the summit of the mountain, 

 a distance of about half a mile. Arriving at the highest point, 

 which is at its eastern extremity, a strange wild panorama of deso- 

 lation met our view : to the north round by west, and south-west, 

 the distant horizon was unrelieved by a hill or range of any kind 



