63 
with nine additional horses, joined the expedition. The Petermann 
is the dividing line between the Levi and James ranges, which 
have characteristics in common, the main difference being that the 
former is of very limited extent. On the 7th of June we continued 
our journey towards Gill’s Range, still going westward, and still 
passing through magnificently-grassed country. Various deposits 
of fossils were examined in the James, Levi, and Gill’s ranges, and 
numerous specimens procured for the petrological collection. Giull’s 
Range is similar in its principal aspects to the Levi Range. We 
inspected the various “‘ permanent waters’? on its south side— 
springs of no magnitude, but furnishing an abundant supply. The 
well-grassed country does not extend beyond a mile to the south of 
the range, sandhills then appearing as far as the vision can reach. 
iErom!) Reedy Creek, im Jat. 24° 17 49" S., long. 131° 38 E., some 
of the party, under Mr. Cowle’s guidance, visited Ayers Rock and 
Mount Olga. The main body still pursued a westerly course over 
the same fertile plains already described. The Gill’s Range ter- 
minates in long. 131° 35’ EK. Low sandstone ridges then occur, 
and these extend to the west and beyond Laurie’s Creek. This 
creek was reached on the 18th of June, and a short halt was made 
in order to examine the fossiliferous deposits in its vicinity. Some 
perfect specimens of rare fossils were obtained. Altering our 
course now to a northerly direction, over continuous sandridges. we 
came into view of several imposing mountains of the Macdonnell 
Ranges. At Glen Edith we found the Tarn of Auber, a reputed 
** permanent water,” to be dry, proving the unfavorable nature of 
this season. On the 16th of June we arrived at Deering Creek, and 
once more were in well-watered country. The Macdonnell Ranges 
were now immediately to the north of us, and we pursued our 
journey in an easterly direction towards Mereenie Bluff. 
On the 19th of June we entered a remarkable valley, which was 
subsequently found to extend, between wall-like ranges, for over 100 
miles to the eastward; I have named it Mereenie Valley. The 
Mereenie Escarpment on the south side of this immense pass is a 
noteworthy feature of this part of the Macdonnell Ranges. It 
extends in an unbroken line for twenty miles, and recurs at short 
intervals for many miles farther to the eastward. In lat. 23° 
34’ 23” §. and long. 132° 5’ KE. we again took a northerly course and 
visited several mountains on the northern confines of the ranges. 
A most unusual geological feature was here noted. ‘The Macdonnell 
Ranges in these parts consist of apparently isolated mountains 
joined by low ridges and interspersed with well-grassed plains. 
The waters, however, are limited in number and of small extent. 
Here, for the first time since leaving Oodnadatta, metalliferous 
