EXPLOEING EXPEDITIONS 5 



Monday, March 25th. — Camp No. 4, Burt Plain. Bar. 2/-835in., 

 ther. 66° at sunrise. — At this point the highest peak of a detached 

 range bears N. 22° W, distant about two miles, so that the travel- 

 ling to-day will be in a valley between the main MacDonnell 

 Ranges which are here about 1,200ft. above the level of the plain, 

 and those which appear to be tending to the north-west. Started 

 from camp at 8*45, N. 83° W. ; at three miles came across a 

 crabhole full of water from yesterday's rain, at which I gave all 

 the camels an opportunity to drink which very few availed them- 

 selves of. The grass and herbage here was most luxuriant. The 

 morning was fine, cool, and pleasant, but the afternoon close and 

 oppressive; at 3 p.m. so sharp a shower fell that all were glad to 

 get inside their jackets. Travelled nineteen miles, saw a few 

 kangaroos of the red variety. Camped at 5 - 30 p.m. 



Tuesday, March 26th. — Camp No. 5. Bar. 27-900in., ther. °70 

 at 6 a.m. ; cloudy, but cool all night — This camp is very prettily 

 ■situated at the entrance of a little glade, and the range being less 

 abrupt, grassy, and more sloping, gave it quite a picturesque 

 appearance. The camels wandered away a considerable distance, 

 and while awaiting their arrival I made the discovery that the 

 quicksilver from an artificial horizon bad leaked out and was 

 scattered all over the boxes. Fortunately I had a spare one, and 

 though I collected all the quicksilver I could a great deal was lost. 

 The camels were brought back to their duty at 830, and, having 

 spent the night in wandering about in their hopples, they presented 

 a very sorry appearance. Started at 9*20, N. 80° W. At noon the 

 view to the westward was obstructed by ranges. At 2 45 our 

 •course took us through a small gap in the hills, which, by the 

 way, have now lost their imposing and mountainous appearance, 

 though to the southward the heights are to be seen towering 

 above the nearer hills. Fifteen miles from last camp we travelled 

 west down a rough, rocky gorge, which gradually developed into 

 a gum creek that turned away to the N.W. Camped at 6 30, closed 

 in by ranges on all sides. It was too dark to take notice of our new 

 surroundings, but they did not look very bright; the camels when 

 let go looked much disturbed. Noticed the bean tree growing 

 among the rocks upon the slopes of the hills. Travelled eighteen 

 miles. Trees and shrubs seen to-day were mulga, bean tree, ti-tree, 

 and greviliia. 



Wednesday, March 21th. — Camp No. 6, West MacDonnell 

 Ranges. Bar. 27"80()in., ther. 61° at dawn. — The camel bells were 

 so quickly out of hearing last night that it gave me some cause 

 for uneasiness. At midnight Fred. Warman and I started after 

 them. They were making away for water, and had I left them 

 till morning they would have had such an advance of us that the 

 start would have been much delayed. After much trouble and 

 stumbling about in the darkness they were all collected and brought 

 back, but it was 3 o'clock before we retired to rest. They have 



