8 CENTKAJ, AUSTRALIAN 



Sunday, March Zlst. — Camp No. 9. Bar. 27-670 in., tlier. 72°. 

 — Started at 8*40 ; continued south for two miles when we struck 

 a cattle pad with dray track on it ; followed it up to the east for 

 one and a half miles ; it then turned N. 85° E. for two miles ; 

 here the track became so faint that we abandoned it and turned 

 S. 25° E. for six miles when, striking a gum creek, I turned east for 

 three miles, the creek splitting up into narrow channels. I turned 

 S. 40° E. for two miles, here I struck a very decided cattle track 

 upon which were a number of fresh tracks ; followed this for four 

 miles east; at 4-30 reached a clay- water channel with some very 

 nice waterholes in it which were now quite full ; around this spot 

 mallee timber was observed for the first time upon this journey. 

 The principal, and I may say the only, timber seen, has been mulga 

 and bloodwood, the exceptions being bean trees and dwarf pines 

 and grevillia. Travelled 21 miles, which may be described as wide 

 open valleys well grassed and with occasional clumps of mulga ; 

 hills and ranges upon both sides. Camped early, 4 - 30, but not soon 

 enough for a heavy thunderstorm with rain broke overhead while 

 we were unloading ; it looked so threatening that I had everything 

 put under the tarpaulins, the tent rigged, and everything made snug 

 for the night. Two emus were seen to-day. Botanical specimens 

 collected. 



Monday, April Is? 1 .— Camp No. 10. Bar. 27"720in., ther. 72°. 

 — Cloudy, close, and dull at daybreak, much rain, with thunder 

 and vivid lightning during the night. A dog was heard barking 

 this morning, which probably belongs to some blacks' camp ; 

 but to judge from the number of cattle and horse tracks seen last 

 evening, I think we cannot be far from the station. Owing to 

 there being but very poor feed for the camels they rambled away, 

 and we did not get away from this camp till 9-30. Started on a 

 bearing of S. 75° and had not been travelling many minutes before 

 we saw two natives approaching ; it appears they had heard the 

 camel bells during the night ; these were soon joined by several 

 others, until we had quite a large escort to take us to the station, 

 which we reached in three miles. The manager, Mr. MacDonald, 

 was away, but the men showed us the best place to camp, which 

 was a few hundred yards down the creek. The station is situated 

 upon a small gum creek that runs into the Davenport creek. 

 There is, thanks to last night's rain, plenty of surface water in the 

 creek ; when these fail, the station is dependent for water upon a 

 native well soakage. Botanical specimens collected. The natives 

 here at this time number about 40 — men, women, and children. 



Tuesday, April 2nd.— Glen Helen Station. Bar. 27-760in., ther. 

 76°. — At6 a.m., bright, fine, and clear. Started with Fred and 

 Billy to make the ascent of Mount Razorback; it lays N. 4° W. 

 from the station, distant about 4 miles. Leaving Fred at the foot 

 with the camels to do some prospecting in the neighbourhood, 

 while Billy and myself prepared for the ascent, we found it steep 

 and in many places precipitous ; composed largely of quartzite ; 



