ays) 
tains numerous small waterholes, some of which would probably 
last for twelve months after rain. The northern ridge of the Mac- 
donnell Ranges is now four miles to the north and can be crossed 
without much difficulty. Having ascertained this fact I retraced 
my steps to the camp. ‘The distance travelled to-day was fourteen 
miles. Two blackfellows arrived at the camp in the afternoon ; 
we gave them five rock wallabies shot during the day by our black 
boy Harry. To-day Mr. Belt secured a species of owl and speci- 
mens of other birds for the collection. Several dingoes approached 
the camp in the afternoon and made us fully aware of their pre- 
sence during the night, but all endeavors to capture them proved 
futile. Rock wallabies are very numerous in the ridges near the 
camp. I have called the several gorges and gaps through which the 
Hugh river takes its course in this part of the Macdonnell Ranges 
Stuart’s Pass, after John McD. Stuart, the explorer, who crossed 
the ranges here on his memorable journeys across Australia. 
Friday, July 15th.—Bar. 27-80in., ther. 34°. I followed my 
yesterday’s course to the small gap in the low granite ridge, seven 
miles distant. The rough road tried the camels severely. The 
two natives who had accompanied us professed to be able to show 
me a good track from here through the ranges to the Burt Plain. 
I therefore allowed them to lead the way. Starting in the direc- 
tion of N. 65° E. they piloted us over very rugged steep hills for 
eight miles to the northern range. A small teatree creek (wherein 
a perfect bower-bird’s nest was observed), which we followed for 
some miles, is rendered impassable by enormous masses of rocks, 
amongst which several fine rock waterholes occur. ‘These, how- 
ever, are inaccessible to stock, and I had no alternative but to 
eross the steep rocky range to the north, a rather hazardous 
undertaking with camels. The ascent was comparatively easy, but 
the descent had to be effected by continual zigzags, at the risk of 
breaking the camels’ legs amongst the outcropping rocks. Never- 
theless at sundown the Burt Plain was sately reached, and we 
eamped in a small gum creek, about half a mile north of the 
Macdonnell Ranges. <A noisy flock of some fifty or sixty black 
cockatoos were disturbed near the rock waterholes and Mr. Belt 
succeeded in securing three for the ornithological collection. 
Saturday, July 14th.—Camp No. 48; bar. 27°64in., ther. 35°; 
height 2,168ft. Last night the thermometer descended to 25°. 
An early start was made this morning. Now, in country explored 
by me in 1878, I no longer felt compelled to keep a traverse. We 
followed the Macdonnell Ranges eastward, crossing splendidly- 
grassed open plains lightly timbered with mulga. At fourteen | 
miles we arrived at the Painta Spring, discovered by me on my 
