22 CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN 



Sunday, May \2th.— Camp No. 26. Bar. 27*775 in., ther. 59°. 

 — I was turned out by a smart shower at 3 o'clock this morning, 

 but it cleared away in an hour ; camels were not brought up till 9, 

 the poisoned ones still looking very bad, having eaten nothing 

 during the night. Saddled them all up and started at 10-30 

 N. 45° W. for three and a half miles, then turned S. 60° W. one 

 mile up the creek, then turned south still following up the running 

 water for two miles ; this brought us to the top of the range. I 

 now turned S. 64° W., and in five miles reached the southern slope 

 of the range. I now directed my course towards a singular looking 

 hill seen from the top of the Watson Range, and after travelling 

 for eight miles upon this bearing S. 83° W., I camped for the 

 night. The last three miles of the day's travelling being over 

 well- grassed open country with occasional clumps of mulga. 

 Secured specimens of the poison plant. Bar. 27 - 80 ( J in., ther. 70° 

 at 5 p.m. 



Monday, May 13^A.— Camp No. 27. Bar. 28-100in., ther. 44°, 

 cold south-east wind. — Started at 8"40. This camp is situUted at 

 the south-eastern end of a line of hills running towards the N.W., 

 and presenting a line of cliffs to the southward. To examine a 

 remarkable part of this range I turned upon a bearing of N. 37° 

 W., travelled over open spinifex sandhills Bor ten miles, then turned 

 northerly for half a mile when we came to a gum creek running 

 south-westerly ; I was in hopes of obtaining sufficient to fill my 

 kegs, but was very agreeably surprised to find a stream of beauti- 

 fully clear water coming from a glen in the hills. I have never 

 seen such magnificent bean trees as those growing on the banks of 

 this cieek, besides gum trees of majestic proportions luxuriating 

 in the richest brown loam imaginable. There were grasses, shrubs, 

 and undergrow f th of the most vigorous growth, low pine clad sand- 

 stone hills on either side, completing a landscape only too seldom 

 met with in Central Australia. We had travelled but a short 

 distance it is true, but it was impossible to pass this spot without 

 examining it in detail, besides my ailing camels would benefit by 

 a day on such magnificent feed ; so at the entrance to the glen we 

 turned them out. Travelled thirteen miles. Collected rock 

 specimens Nos. 38. 39, and 40. Bar. 280-00in., ther. 68° at 5 p.m. 

 Heard some curlews in the evening. 



Tuesday, May 14th.— Camp No. 27, Gill's Creek : S. latitude 23° 

 49' 25" E. long. 130° 33'. Bar. 2*-010, ther. 5U°, S.E wind.— Last 

 night was too cloudy and overcast for observing ; the poisoned 

 camel is no better, the animal cannot raise any cud, though re- 

 peatedly and continually trying to do so, and eats but very 

 sparingly; all the other functions appear to act well, quantities of 

 green frothy saliva occasionally escape from the nose and mouth ; 

 this is especially noticeable when the head is held down either to 

 drink or in the act of laying down. I shall let it rest here for two 

 days, 1 can then do no more. Went up the glen with Billy to 



