149 
Nov. i, 1885.] The Australasian Scientific Magazine. 
of trouble had been expended in rummaging over the treasures which the 
society possessed. He believed — nay, he was certain— that the society 
had a future of great usefulness before it, and he appealed to the public to 
support it, and to assist it in carrying that work out. 
Mr. Palmerston’s paper on “Exploration in Northern Queensland” was 
then read by Mr. Percy R. Meggy, for Mr. T. H. Myring, the latter, in 
whose name the paper stood, suffering from a severe cold. The exploring 
party consisted of Mr. Palmerston and his black boy Willie, a very smart 
native of the jungles about to be explored, and Mr. G. E. Clarke, of Her- 
berton, and his black boy Sam, a blinders River aboriginal of somewhat 
cowardly tendencies. Theystarted on December 21, 18S4, from Herberton, 
well known for its eminent tin and silver lodes. It stands nearly 3,000 
feet above sea level on one of the fountain heads of the River Herbert, 
which empties itself into Hinchinbrook Channel. The North Johnstone 
River rises near Herberton, and has many tributaries. It flows through 
many miles ofjungled tablelands of a highly volcanic character, winding 
about and finally reaching the Pacific in lat. 18.30 S. About four miles 
from its entrance it forks, large sugar plantations being formed on the 
the delta of the rivers, while on a very pretty site, at the point of divergence 
of the rivers, stands the town of Geraldton. The party carried rations of 
flour, dried beef, tea, sugar, and Liebig’s extract of meat, done up in 
waterproof bags to protect them from the perpetual dampness of the 
jungles, and slung over the head, each man’s burden, including rifle and 
cooking utensils, weighing about 70 lb. On the second day the party 
reached a pocket, i.e., a piece of open country about a quarter of an acre 
in size, circular shaped, where the aboriginals go in for fighting and war 
dances. Around the margin of the pocket were several gunyahs, oval in 
shape, and substantially thatched with fronds and coarse grass, and ad- 
mirably adapted to keep out the rain, which in these districts falls frequently 
and in torrents. Many large paths lead to the gunyahs from different 
directions, -while in a hole near by was a heap of adult skulls. In another 
pocket not far distant, situated on an eminence to give it drainage, and 
kept scrupulously clean, on the roofs of the gunyahs were deaths’ heads hung 
up with twine, and leading to the suspicion that the natives had been re- 
cently indulging their propensity for cannibalism. There were also many 
large wooden shields, painted in rude but gaudy patterns, the red and dark 
colours being mixed with blood, obtained by irritating the nostril with 
grass. Swords and spears of the same material could also be seen lying 
about. On the 26th the party arrived at the new rush, which is situated on 
a creek emptying itself into the North Johnston, about 18 miles above 
Geraldton, in a direct line, and between 20 and 30 miles by following the 
river course. The explorer experimented at the creek, but did not think 
much of the gold prospects at that point. Pursuing their journey, the 
party suffered terribly from stinging bush, which stung their bare legs re- 
morselessly, while the jagged rocks which abounded cut their bare feet or 
their apologies for boots. They were obliged to return to the rush for a re- 
fit before proceeding very far. On the Sunday following, January 4, Mr. 
Clarke left the party, and, fever setting in shortly afterwards, returned to 
Geraldton for good. On that day eight Europeans arrived from Herber- 
ton, after taking 14 days to traverse the 50 miles of jungle which separ- 
ated the two places. One of the new' arrivals had been almost stoned to 
death by the aborigines, the explorer, accompanied by the two boys, then 
started on a prospecting tour, and had a terrible encounter with the 
