20 
Mr. Watt set out to examine the James Ranges to the north of the 
camp, and, as he anticipated reaching Tempe Downs Station early 
in the day, he declined the services of a black boy. Accompanied 
by Mr. Belt and Tommy the black boy, and leaving the camp in 
charge of Mr. Keartland, I returned on our tracks, mapping the 
country to the Walker Creek north of Petermann Gap. Thence I 
travelled to Tempe Downs Station. Starting on a bearing of 307° 
in the direction of Mount Lewis, a high prominent point in an 
elevated scrubby range, I crossed the Walker Creek in one and a 
half miles; at three and a half miles over red sandridges covered 
with porcupine grass and casuarina (desert oak) forest, I altered 
the course to 272° in the direction of a spur in the southern range. 
At half a mile we again crossed the Walker, and at two and three- 
quarter miles entered the Walker Gorge on a bearing of 229° 30’. 
This gorge is formed by the Walker Creek flowing through three 
ridges of the James Range. High precipitous rocks abut on the 
watercourse. An abundance of water is always running amid the 
reeds and rushes here. Emerging from the gorge in three-quarters 
of a mile, we entered the ‘Tempe Downs Plain on a bearing of 
71° 20’, and after twice crossing the Walker Creek in one and a 
quarter miles we arrived at the station. All this region consists 
of high, serubby, rocky, and impassable ridges, trending in parallel 
lines east and west, with plains between varying considerably in 
extent. These expanses of flat country are generally well grassed 
and fairly timbered; but red sandhills are often encountered, with 
their inevitable porcupine grass. Mr. Thornton, the owner of 
Tempe Downs, with the utmost generosity, insisted on all the 
members of the party partaking of his hospitality. I found 
Professors Spencer, Tate, and Dr. Stirling, who arrived here on 
Saturday evening, all well pleased at the extended time allowed 
them and anxious for a further stay, the fauna, flora, and formation 
of the locality proving to be of especial interest; but the limited 
time at our disposal will not permit me to prolong the visit here. 
In the evening Mr. Thornton arranged for our edification a corrob- 
boree by the natives, of whom a large number are camped in the 
vicinity of the station. An intensely cold night somewhat chilled 
the ardor of the native performers. Nevertheless the anthro- 
pologist will, I doubt not, fully describe this ceremony, which 
was not without interest despite’ the circumstances. militating 
_ against it. Our second instalment of stores obtained from Mr. 
F. Raggett, of Alice Springs, arrived at Tempe Downs to-day. 
Mr. Thornton having kindly placed a trustworthy black boy at my 
disposal, I sent instructions to Mr. Keartland to dispatch eight 
pack camels to Petermann Gap to-morrow. 
