THE HOLLYFORD VALLEY. 461 
In the second our boat was very nearly lost, as the bank to which 
it was moored gave way. Fortunately a large tree in the fall 
came right across the boat, and though it sank and strained her 
considerably, kept her from drifting away until we secured her 
again. At the Pyke Creek camp we built a good “ futtah,” thus 
utilising some of the time that otherwise would have been wasted 
on account of the rain and fog. After finishing the work about 
this camp we took the boat back to Lake McKerrow and brought 
the rest of the provisions from the survey office up to the “ futtah,” 
whence I kept two men constantly employed in carrying them 
to the different camps up the valley. Whilst camped at the head 
of the lake the second time there was another heavy flood—the 
third within three weeks. Lake McKerrow rose on this occasion 
about ten feet, obliging us to shift camp in the rain, and cover- 
ing our camping ground to a depth of four feet. From this time 
until about the end of the first week in March, the weather was 
very unsettled, and the rivers constantly high. To cross the 
Hollyford above Hidden Falls we cut out a canoe. I found 
that two good axe-men could cut out a good canoe and complete 
it, with paddles, &c., in two days. The one we had would carry 
three men easily. Up to this time the work had been going on 
steadily, considering the weather, though slowly, two men being 
kept at swagging provisions, two going up with me to the trigs., 
and the cook staying in camp or out with the gun getting birds, 
which were our only meat after the first month. Some of the 
trigs could be done in the day from our main camp ; to others 
we had to take a tent and make a flying camp, usually pitching 
tent just at the head of the bush. 
“While at one of these flying camps we saw a strange sight, 
which I think worth noticing. I will make an extract from my 
diary :—‘ March 8—Got up very early this morning, and was up 
at the trig T by half-past seven. Though the sun was up, the 
eastern side of the valley was in the shade, so that I could not 
see the flags, and very soon the light morning fog rose around 
us. While waiting for this to clear away we went over to a small 
mountain lake about a quarter of a mile from the trig. Looking 
down on this from the top of the precipice which surrounds it, 
we saw a most strange and interesting sight, and one I fancy 
rarely seen. This was a beautiful miniature rainbow. As we 
gazed down on the lake, wondering at and admiring the depth 
and purity of its blue water, and speculating as to the cause of 
its formation, a wreath of mist floated slowly before us. The 
sun at the same time being almost level with and immediately 
behind us, his rays were reflected from the mist in the form of a 
perfect rainbow. In the centre of each of these circles, each one 
of us saw the shadow of his own head. The shadows were so 
distinct, owing to the mist being so close, that when I held up 
my hand as high as my head the fingers were plainly traceable 
in the shadow. From this I have named the lake Rainbow.’ 
“On the 13th of March I madea rather interesting excursion. 
The day before I observed at trig S, but instead of camping near 
