41 
the longed-for curiosities. Our black boy, Racehorse, had deserted 
us meantime. Probably he guessed the nature of our quest, and, 
afraid of arousing the resentment of the other natives, he returned 
to camp. In the evening I questioned him, and, after a vast 
amount of evasion, elicited the information that a large number of 
corrobboree stones were hidden in a cave in the ranges to the east- 
ward. I obtained knowledge of the exact position of this cave, 
and as these rare and interesting stones are of especial interest 
and value to the ethnological department I have determined to 
visit this spot to-morrow. ‘The two prospectors (Pritchard and 
Russell) returned to the camp in the evening and reported having 
tested not only all the localities indicated by me, but also others, 
without finding any trace of minerals. They are of the opinion that 
this part of the ranges is unsuitable for further prospecting. In 
this the geologist now concurs. I regret this all the more because 
the metalliferous rocks in this neighborhood were the first seen 
during our journey. Several natives were heard near the camp 
during the early part of the night, but otherwise they did not 
disturb us. A small spring is situated near the north-eastern point 
of Mount Francis, but the approach to it up a small gully is ex- 
ceedingly rough. A mile to the westward, near the foot of the 
range, is the Welcome Spring, a small stream of the purest water 
flowing for about 100yds. amongst matted reeds and rushes along 
a small creek channel luxuriantly timbered with black wattle trees 
of large size, and making a pleasant change in this otherwise 
sterile region. 
Saturday, June 23rd.—Camp No. 38; bar. 27°82in., ther. 28°; 
height 2,155ft. This morning I moved the camp about two miles 
to the south-west, and from here determined the exact heights of 
various points of the surrounding mountains. I measured an ex- 
tensive baseline, being greatly assisted in this by Dr. Stirling and 
Professor Tate, and also by the prospectors and Taylor. At noon I 
directed the prospectors with Professor Tate to return to camp No. 
387. Accompanied by Dr. Stirling, Taylor, and the two blacks I 
started in search of the corrobboree stones. Racehorse now seemed 
loath to proceed in the direction of the hills where these treasures 
were hidden, and endeavored to persuade me not to go. But all 
his excuses and objections were futile, and fortunately the infor- 
mation I secured from him last night rendered his further assis- 
tance of little importance. Course 35° for half a mile, Mount 
Francis now bearing N.N.W. and half a mile distant; changed to 
99° 40’ for two and a half miles, through well-grassed and rather 
dense mulga and cassia scrub, to the Darwent Creek. A small 
soakage in the sand of the creek bed, called Ana-loorgoon by the 
