EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 13 



decided to waste no time in searching for a pass so turned S. 70° 

 W., we were now in a stony valley with a bold bluff range of 

 over 1,000 feet immediately south of us. Mr. MacDonald's black- 

 boy was now further in this direction than he had ever been before, 

 and did not like the idea of going any further. From him I learn 

 that this bluff is called by them Mareena, at its N.E. end is a spring 

 called Enditta, but as this is in an inaccessible spot I did not waste 

 time in visiting it. Camped at the foot of the bluff, travelled six 

 miles upon the last bearing. Travelled fifteen miles rough, stony, 

 hilly ground, covered with spinifex the whole way, with trees of 

 bloodwood. mulga, and gum ; magpies and crows seen this morn- 

 ing. Bar. 27 - 510in., ther. 82° at 3 p.m. 



Thursday, April 18th — Camp No. 14, Mareena Creek. Bar. 

 27 - 560in., ther. 65° at sunrise. — I omitted to mention that a small 

 rock hole, containing a little water, was found near this camp. Mr. 

 MacDonald, with some difficulty, managed to get his horses up to 

 it. Mareena Bluff is quite inaccessible from this side, but I should 

 think a splendid view would be obtained from the top. While the 

 camels were being brought up I ascended a lower line of hills that 

 lay to the northward, from here I observed M<>unt Sonder N. 87° E., 

 distant about 35 miles, Mount Razorback N. 76° E., Mount Zeil is 

 hidden behind some hills close by. The rock formation of these hills 

 is sandstone and quartzite. Collected rock specimens 21 and 22, 

 started at 9, continued up the valley upon a bearing of S. 70° W. 

 for five miles. Seeing a small water" channel between my position 

 and the bluff, 1 went to examine it and soon found that w r ater 

 would flow to the southward, so that we were now on the southern 

 slope of the MacDonnell Ranges, and 1 hoped that nothing new 

 "would impede my progress to the westward. Turned S. 17° W. 

 for two miles to avoid some rough hills, and then followed down 

 the Gum Creek south for about 3 miles and camped. My position 

 now, if I am right, is on the Missionary Plain, and this is Rudall's 

 Creek of Giles. The last three miles has been over very well grassed 

 country, open, with occasional cluinps of mulga and colalya gums. 

 Several red kangaroos were observed, but Billy was not successful 

 with his rifle. This has been a very short stage, but the stones had 

 crippled two of the best camels, so I camped early for their benefit. 

 Mr. MacDonald returned to Glen Helen at midday. Bar. 27 - 570in., 

 ther. 85° at 3 p.m. 



Friday, April 19th.— Camp No. 15, S. iat. 23° 41' 25". Bar. 

 27-600in., ther. 42° at sunrise. — By observation I found the lati- 

 tude of this camp to be 23° 41' 58". Started upon a bearing of S. 

 82° W. at 8-40, travelled over well grassed mulga flats till 11, when 

 we entered into porcupine sandhills rising towards low dark scrubby 

 hills, which I take to be the Gardiner Range of Giles ; these lay 

 across our course and were met with at 1 p.m. The sandhill and 

 porcupine then gave way to mulga scrub, which, not being specially 

 dense, was a pleasant relief from the spinifex sandhills ; this only 



