EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 11 



which I made 23° 35'. Billy brought in some beautiful specimens 

 of iridescent ores of iron ; seen in the sunlight they are very 

 brilliant. 



Wednesday, April 10th. — Camp No. 10, Mount Sonder. S. lati- 

 tude 23° 35' 46" — Interviewing the most intelligent natives I ascer- 

 tained the native names of the principal local geographical features 

 to be : — Moiint Sonder, Oorichipima; Mount Razorback, Oora- 

 tunda ; Mount Giles, Um-bat-thera ; Davenport Creek, Indianana ; 

 Haast's Bluff Range, Nyurla ; Mount Zeil, Willatrika ; Mount 

 Crawford, Mareena ; creek under Mount Sonder, Oorachilpilla. 

 Oora means fire, and it is somewhat singular that Mounts Sonder 

 and Razorback and the creek at the foot of Mount Sonder should 

 all commence with this word. 



Thursday, April Wth. — Camp No. 11. Bar. 27 , 910in., ther. 

 55°. — I went up the creek this morning with the camera, and took 

 some photographs of this wild romantic spot. A walk of a little 

 over a mile took us nearly to the head of the gorge. Beautifully 

 clear water was running over the pebbly bed of the creek. As we 

 approached the gorge the hills upon each side formed into perpen- 

 dicular cliffs, and the creek channel became a chaotic mass of 

 boulders, around and under which the water found its way. A 

 little further, and the cliffs upon each side met, and all further 

 progress was stopped by a large deep pool of water, with per- 

 pendicular cliffs, several hundred feet high, upon either side ; there 

 is a strange fissure in the wall, if I may so describe the mighty 

 cleft in the range ; it is the opposite side of the pool, and, of 

 course, quite unapproachable, and it is down this cleft that the 

 water comes from its unknown source, fills the pool, which, always 

 overflowing, runs down the creek for a mile or more. There is a 

 strange wild beauty about this place, which tempts one to remain 

 and adnrire its lovely wonders. Several cranes were hovering about, 

 and these had brought to the bank a fish from the water, and were 

 discussing it when disturbed by our approach. It was much larger 

 than any I have seen at these inland waters, and must have been 

 nearly 2lbs. in weight. Returning to camp, I went with Mr. 

 MacDonald six or seven miles in a south westerly direction to 

 examine the country there, but found no indication whatever of 

 mineral deposit. 



Friday, April \2th. — Started away from this camp for Glen 

 Helen. A gumtree branded & marks the spot where we camped. 

 I kept further westward and under the main range. Left the 

 stony hills and porcupine grass in about two and a half miles, and 

 soon after crossing a gum creek had trial holes put down, intending 

 to pan off the stuff from the bottom. Camped at Glen Helen. 



Saturday, April 13th.— Bar. 27600in., ther. 60°. — Beetson and 

 Fred were sent down to the trial holes. Washed several dishes of 

 dirt without any results. Bar. 27^50, ther. 90° at 3 p.m. 



Sunday, April 14/A. — Bar. 27-600in., ther. 70° at 6 a.m. — Sultry, 



