11 
\ i i? ^ Dobbie, of Adelaide. I now altered our course to N.N.W., towards Wonnadinna Gap, in the 
Adam flanges. We travelled across bare red sandridges and valleys which have been recently burned; the 
absence of spinifex is a great relief both to us as well as to the camels, who suffer dreadfully from the prickly 
points, lhe burnt country is fairly grassed, which will last until again destroyed by the encroaching spinifex. 
At fourteen miles we finally left the sandridges behind us and traversed a grassy flat with belts of gidea and 
gum. At twenty-four miles we arrived at the Field River, and at twenty-five miles passed Wonnadinna 
ateihole,near which we observed several natives running towards the ranges. Our black boy now became very 
excited and desired to go after these runaways and tiring them back ; he tried several tricks to get away, and at 
last attempted to jump off the camel ; however all his endeavors to escape were of no avail. At twenty-eight 
nines we arrived and camped at Alanajeer, our previous No. 23 camp. We prepared our camp in expectation 
of lain, there is every appearance of a thunder storm coming on. The hot wind continues to blow with 
increased force; the whole sky is overcast, and towards the east continuous flashes of heavy lightning are 
obsen able, followed by the distant rumble of thunder. The atmosphere is heavily charged with electricity. 
owetei, beyond a few light drops during the night, the rain-clouds passed on to some more favored region, 
and the weather still continues very sultry. 
Sunday, 7th. We had a few drops of rain next day; more seemed to be falling towards the south. I 
plotted up part of my work, which occupied me all day. 
. Monday, 8th. Early this morning I took two camels and one man, and leaving the rest of the camels at 
this waterhole, 1 started up the creek, which I examined thoroughly ; it is several miles wide and has numerous 
naiiow channels with many small waterholes ; many of these channels are well adapted for damming. The 
timber, which is very abundant, consists of fine straight gum, bloodwood, and gidea. This country is 
magnificently grassed ; saltbush and other herbage is also very abundant. At nine miles we arrived at a 
small waterhole (dry), which the natives call Nummirra ; it is about 150 yards long and nearly twenty yards 
wide and over six feet deep, with a flat rocky bottom. Altered our coui'se to N.E. for three-quarters of a 
mile to top of low stony undulation; the spinifex has now completely disappeared and good grass is every- 
v vVr nd . an t; man 7 frills and ranges are visible in all directions. We made a fresh start on a 
~ .A.E. bearing, crossing flooded grassy flats densely timbered, the gum and bloodwood trees forming quite 
a forest At two and three miles crossed the two principal channels of the Field River ; the channels have 
a sandy bed and are about a chain wide, with steep banks from four to six feet high. W r e had great difficulty 
T £ ettm o U P and down these banks ; the camels being very weak, rolled back into the creek several times. 
At five miles we ascended a rather high and very rough granite and porphyritic hill ; many table-top hills and 
ranges are visible from here towards the north ; the country also appears to be very scrubby. At seven and 
a half miles we crossed a small tributary creek of the Field River, and at nine and three-quarter miles we 
arrived at the top of some low but well-grassed undulations. Part of the Cairn Range limits the view towards 
the noith to about six miles. The Cairn Range consists of a long, low, and very scrubby, granite tableland. 
ontinued our journey on a ts.E. course, crossing numerous small gum creeks, which form the head of the 
not th-eastern branch of the field River. At seven and a half miles crossed a watershed, and entered a 
beautifully-grassed valley. At ten and a half miles we camped, several hours after sunset. Our camels are 
very leg-weary and seemed more inclined to rest than feed. 
1 uesday 9th. Ihey, however, gave us some trouble during the night, and towards morning we were 
compelled to tie them down until daylight ; my riding camel has become very vicious, and I am obliged to 
muzzle him to prevent, being bitten. Continued on last night’s bearing ; at three miles ascended a hill, from 
which 1 had a good view towards the south and west. Started on a course of S.S.W.; at three-quarters of a 
mile however, altered this to W.S.W., across a splendidly-grassed valley. At one and a half miles crossed a 
sma gum creek, and at two and a half miles a rather large gum creek with a sandy bed ; both creeks trend 
towards the southward. At five miles we passed some peculiar tent-shaped hills, composed of granite, slate, 
compiessed sandstone, and porphyritic rocks; we also found several fine specimens of opal. The country now 
changes into well- grassed stony undulations; the stones are very distressing to our camels, whose feet have 
now become very tender and sore. At about ten miles ascended a high peak, from which I obtained- an 
extensive view and a round of bearings, which enabled me to steer for a gap in the ranges near the Field 
.v ttR1 . crossln S th , e usual well-grassed country we arrived in the gap in five miles, and at seven miles 
struck the main creek, about one and three-quarter miles to the north of the camel camp (Alanaieer). Mi- 
nding camel fell down several times during the last few miles ; he is very leg-weary, and twice fell down the 
steep banks of the main creek. Shortly before reaching camp we disturbed a wild cat of an extraordinary 
size; the brute was nearly as large as a leopard. 1 have now completed my work, and nothing remains but to 
return to. Sandringham Station; we accordingly made preparations for an early start to-morrow. 
Wednesday, 10th.— The camels could not be found until late this morning, and we did not get under- 
way before 10 a m. ; our course was about S.E. for one and a half miles to a gap in the range. I then 
changed to E.6.E., across sandy and well-grassed country. At three miles passed a few low stony hills. The 
country now changes into stony flats, splendidly grassed and well timbered with gidea. At four miles crossed 
a single sandndge ; at eleven miles crossed a rather large gum creek trending towards the south; at thirteen 
and a half miles, top of very high and prominent peak, from which I obtained a good view all round The 
country now again undergoes a change for the worse; it now consists of sand, which is covered with low 
nuitib,l' Va t U t and )Ush . < j‘ S ’ and cll ? m P s g^ea and box trees; it is fairly grassed; spinifex is also 
of b ! L, At .f vent >'- three m,1 ? s camped near the foot of a low granite range, from which I obtained a round 
l, A ' dr< w ° f ^ ln u e dunn g the afternoon and night; the weather, however, continued very 
sultry and overcast, and I could obtain no observations. J 
, 1 llth -— °" r camels are very foot-sore and tired; the stones have chipped large holes in the 
their fee f ’ se ^ eral of them were quite knocked up last night. Started at about 6 30 a.m. on vesterday’s 
nnd aC w> 0W St0ny and Very T rubby undulations ; at nine miles wc again arrived at the sandridges 
o is t Td C « r u, V „'7H l '' eP “, d ratl r the > * S"»« to 8 our poor camel,. Altered o« 
a larae iheet of rvltl ,V f r TT acros ? s P lmt ' x sandridges, we arrived at Coonamucka Swamp, 
a large sheet ot water about forty chains long and about the same width. This swamp apparently holds 
vegetable matter wSehlfc ^ f iS ^ htly st ^ nint ’ «“»ed by the decomposition of 
is dotted oTer with h™ tlpf J 11 ° th f kkc or swam P b ? a sma11 creek from the north-west; the swamp 
s dotted over with box trees, and the water in it at present is from one to four feet deep and mav last another 
toui months during the present hot weather ; it has already stood fully eight months I found several curious 
and rare plan,, grow™, around the water’s edge, the most rcm.rkaVbein.IT e.rnive™, 
No. 39. 
I 
