•2 CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN 



that a supply of seeds and dates promised by the Conservator of 

 Forests had not arrived. A blunder appears to have been made by 

 the Railway Department in misdirecting the parcel. The oppor- 

 tunity now afforded for planting date palms in Central Australia is 

 passed. The experiment would have been both valuable and inter- 

 esting, as I was anxious to have tested certain localities where 

 I knew good soil and permanent water existed. Date palms in 

 fruit at permanent watering places would prove an inestimable 

 blessing to the famished and wearied traveller in tropical Aus- 

 tralia ; and nothing would have given me greater satisfaction than 

 to have been favored with the pioneer work of so philanthrophic 

 an undertaking. 



Thursday, March 14th, 1889. — Bond Springs. The party, con- 

 sisting of myself, David Beetson, Fred. Warman, a black-tracker 

 (Billy, from the ranks of the native police at Alice Springs), 

 ami a small native boy, left the Bond Springs station at 1 p.m. 

 Previous to starting we were all most hospitably entertained at 

 dinner by Mr. R. Taylor, the manager. During our two weeks' 

 stay this gentleman assisted me in every possible way that could 

 be prompted by a kindly nature and a lively interest iD the cause 

 of our work. 



Our caravan consisted of twelve camels — four for riding, two 

 for carrying water, the remaining six carried loads (averaging 

 4cwt. each) of provisions estimated to last for nearly four months. 

 They had considerably improved in condition during the journey 

 from Crown Point, and marched off with their burdens with ease. 

 I had decided to follow the north slopes of the MacDonnell Range 

 westerly to Glen Helen station. Travelled three miles west to low, 

 well-grassed, stony hills ; then, on a bearing of N. 45° W. for two 

 miles, I now made the tedious ascent of the hills and steered a 

 course west for three miles, which took me to the telegraph line. 

 From here I followed the foot of the main MacDonnell Range for 

 eight miles, on a bearing of S. 76° W., when the Painta Spring was 

 reached at dusk. Travelled seventeen miles through splendidly 

 grassed country, the timber consisting chiefly of bloodwood, mulga, 

 and various leguminosse of stunted but healthy growth. Magpies 

 and crows were the only birds seen. Bar. 27'820in., ther. 102° 

 in the shade at 1 p.m. ; the weather was cloudy and sultry, followed 

 by a smart thunderstorm at 4 p.m. 



Friday, March \bth. — Camp No. 1, Painta Springs. — As soon 

 as daylight appeared I proceeded to examine the surroundings, 

 and found the Painta Spring to be a well about 12ft. deep, and 

 blasted out of solid rock at the foot of the ranges, which are of no 

 great elevation at this point. The water, which is of the most 

 •excellent description, is raised by means of a windlass and bucket ; 

 a line of troughs makes it a very complete and convenient watering 

 place. The overhanging rocks are shaded by beautiful fig trees, 

 which unfortunately were not in fruit ; near the well, a handsome 



