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The Explorer.
GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF
AUSTRALASIA.
MR. TIETKENS'S EXPLORATIONS:
The South Australian branch of the Geo-
graphical Society held a very successful meet-
ing in the Exchange room of tbe Town Hall,
on Friday evening, for the purpose of hearing
a detailed account of the doings of Mr.
Tietkens's exploring expedition in Central
Australia, where he has succeeded in making
several important geographical discoveries.
There was a good attendance, over which the
Hon. Dr. Campbell, M.L.C. presided.
After some introductory remarks, he said
Mr. Tietkens was sent out to lead an expedi-
tion organised by the Australian Prospecting
and Exploring Association. They furnished
the greater part of the means by which Mr.
Tietkens was enabled to undertake this expe-
dition, whose object was twofold— scientific
and commercial— and the results showed that
the scientific had the advantage over the com
mercial.
Mr. Tietkens then read the following
paper : —
In a short paper I had the honor of reading
before this branch on August 30, 1886, I invited
special attention to the desirableness of
organising an expedition to explore the un-
known regions to tbe north and west of Lake
Amadeus. The South Australian branch of
tbe Royal Geographical Society was unable to
equip a party for want of funds, but the
Victorian branch generously offered to assist in
any scheme for exploring the country around
Lake Amadeus. At this juncture the so-
called ruby discoveries were drawing
the attention of capitalists and others
to the supposed hidden wealth of central
Australia, and the South Australian branch
being anxious to promote the exploration of
the country referred to in my paper initiated
tbe idea of a company being formed on a com-
mercial basis for exploring and prospecting in
Central Australia, to which project it would
give all the assistance in its power. This led
to the formation of the Central Australian
Exploring and Prospecting Association, whose
primary objects were " to organise, equip, fit
out, and maintain expeditions and parties for
exploring and prospecting purposes in any part
or parts of Australia." The first party sent
out confined their prospecting to the east of
tbe telegraph line, and was recalled to
Adelaide. A second expedition was formed
under my charge, and on the 14th March
the expedition, consisting of myself, David
Beetson, Fred Warman, a black tracker
(Billy), and a small native boy, with 12
camels, left the telegraph line at Alice Springs
and reached the Painta Springs. The distance
travelled was but 15 miles, and was intended
more as a trial trip to see how the loads would
ride, and how the camels travelled, than with
tbe hope of making a long stage. Everything
proved complete and compact, and we reached
the night's bivouac at dusk without any mis-
hap, but it was quite dark before we had
finished unloading and hobbling out the
camels. Meanwhile the small boy Weei had
been looking out for firewood, which was rather
scarce round the spring. At last a fire was
started, and we were soon at supper discussing
the merits of the different camels, and
fixing on the names they were to be
known by and many other details. The early
part of the day had been hot, 102° in the shade,
but clouds and a few thundershowers made
things more agreeable in the afternoon. The
Painta Spring was, I believe, originally a
native well, and is situated at the foot of the
north slope of the MacDonnell Range. Its
small supply of water was abundant for the
native population, but with the help of ex-
plosives a portion of the rock was removed,
and a permanent watering place has been made
for a limited number of stock. The Burt
Plain is here very rich in pasture, and there
can be no doubt that other native water-
ing places in the neighborhood would
also well repay the cost of opening out.
The western end of this plain is ren-
dered attractive and pleasing to the eye by
tbe luxurious growth of' bloodwood and
bean trees, which give the landscape a
rich and semi-tropical appearance. From
the Painta Spring we travelled westerly
for 80 miles over firm sandy soil, with an
abrupt wall of 1,000 feet or more of the ranges
upon our left hand, I was rather disappointed
at not finding an attempt of getting
through this range to the south, and was sur-
prised to find an obstacle that so resolutely
defeated my every opportunity to penetrate
the country. To the northward the Burt
Plain extended to the limits of vision. The
weather continued very warm, and the camels
being heavily loaded were somewhat distressed
for want of water. It was quite a new ex-
perience to me travelling for nearly 100 miles
along the foot of such a noble and magnificent
range to find neither a watercourse nor a native
well. I had not anticipated such a long stage
without water so early in my travels, and as
every likely-looking spot had been unsuccess-
fully examined for water I was beginning to
despair of ever finding any springs along this
range. To Billy was entrusted the important
task of searching the gum creeks and it was
with the greatest anxiety that I awaited his
reports as we slowly journeyed through this
dry and inhospitable region.
On the morning of the fourth day Billy
found a soakage at the head of a gum
creek. I must admit to a feeling of
great relief when this little gem was dis-
covered, for although I am not now speak-
ing of unexplored country, it is unknown
except to a few pioneer stockmen who
ramble further afield than usual with the hope
of making fresh discoveries of water for their
stock. Since my return I have seen Mr.
Winnecke'e sketch map of his travels in this
vicinity and the country to the northward. A
copy of his map would have been of very great
assistance had I possessed one. A few days'
rest was made at this water, and continuing
westerly the bold wall like a barrier gradually
fell away, and when north of Mount Zeil we
struck a tolerably large gum creek running to
tbe northwards. Following this in a southerly
direction to its source I found myself in low
broken hills intersected by well-grassed
valleys, the hills also being fairly grassed.
These continued for eight or nine miles, and
I now found that I had reached the watershed.
The aspect of the country here changed at once,
the first and semi tropical appearance giving
place to clumps of mulga scrub, a firmer soil
with some evidences of a clay subsoil; the
valleys wide and very richly grassed ; the
flats and valley all intersected by water
channels flowing southwards towards either
the Arumbara or Davenport creeks. It was
from this point that I obtained the first view
of what the Glen Helen people call Haast's
Bluff. The native name is Nyurla. From
every point the outline is very singular, and
jagged and rugged in the extreme. A few
miles further cattle were met with, and
the following day (April 1) we arrived
at Glen Helen, and formed a camp a few
hundred yards from the station, which is
situated on the Davenport Creek, a little south
of Mount Razorback, which is surely a mis-
nomer, Mount Sonder being about six miles
easterly from the station. Its bold outline
has a very imposing appearance. I now found
I was in the neighborbood of the reported
silver discoveries, and therefore made it my
duty to stay and prospect the surrounding
country. Not being aware of anyone having made
the ascent of either Mount Sonder or Mount
Razorback with the view of determining their
heights I decided to do so. My two aneroid
barometers had been compared with the
standard mercurial barometers at Alice
Springs and their hourly differences recorded,
and as their movements had been fairly consis-
tent ever since leaving there I think the results
may be looked upon as approximately correct.
Mount Sonder was 2,495 feet, and Mount
Razorback 1,831 feet above Glen Helen station ;
the ascent and descent took 3½ hours. In
returning I had the misfortune to break the
minute hand of my watch. The view from
the top of Mount Sonder is one of mountain
ranges all around with valleys between them.
By far the most conspicuous feature in the
MacDonnell Range is Mount Giles, tbe
highest peak of which must be several hundred
feet higher than Mount Sonder. At the
foot of Mount Sonder, and taking its rise
in a most beautiful gorge at its west-
extremity, is the Redbank Creek, which
in reality is one of the sources of the Finke.
From its source to the point where it joins the
Davenport Creek, the Redbank is about five
miles long, and it would be hard to find a more
beautiful piece of rugged mountain scenery
enclosing so charming a glen as this. The
creek has a broad stony bed, in which are
splendidly grown gum trees at the extreme
head of the gorge, and in the cleft of the
mountains is a larger deep pool of
water, enclosed on three sides with perpen-
dicular walls of rock several hundred feet high.
From this huge natural reservoir the water
runs musically over the rock-strewn channel
for nearly two miles. With such beautiful and
charming surroundings I could but wonder if
my travels into the unknown interior would
reveal similar marvels of nature and such ex-
quisite places of rest. Like most of the deep
pools in tbe MacDonnell Range this contained
a large number of fish; one caught by the
cranes, and which we found laid out on the
rock, must have weighed nearly 2 Ib. The
question naturally arises — How come these fish
to be there? Personally I have no solution to
offer, but I think we may accept the fact as a
tolerably sure evidence of the permanence of
the waters where they exist. Before leaving
this very beautiful spot let me note the native
names for some of the surrounding geographi-
cal features. Mount Sonder is Oora-
chipma; Mount Giles, Umbatthera; Mount
Razorback, Ooratunda; Mount Zeil. Wal-
latrika: Redback Creek, Ooracbilpilla,
"Oora" is their word for fire, and this is the
first syllable in their words for Mount Sonder,
Mount Razorback, and Redbank Creek. Ex-
cepting Mount Giles I think Mount Sonder
is the highest point in the range, and though
the native name for it is indicative of fire, I saw
no traces of volcanic rock, or of any eruptive
force, nor were there any such traces at Mount
Razorback, but is it not possible that the re-
puted burning mountain in Central Australia,
of which we have heard at various times, may
have originated with the natives, whose
imaginative minds and love of the marvellous
conjured into existence a mountain of fire.
Westerly from Glen Helen the traveller
passes over wide valleys of good pasture be-
tween low hills of sandstone and quartzite, but
they who travel south or south westerly must
be prepared to find their way through a wall
like range as formidable as that on the north.
Mr. MacDonald, the manager of Glen Helen,
keeps up a monthly communication with the
outside world, and the road from Glen
Helen is down one of the tributaries of
the Finke, which has forced its way
and made a pass through this range, and
this pass or gorge is the only place that the
drays to and from the station can approach
the telegraph-line. As this pass was too far to
the eastward for me I decided to travel westerly
until opportunity offered to get through, and
failing that to travel westerly until the range
fell out altogether. We left Glen Helen on
April 15, accompanied by Mr. Mac Donald and
one of his blacks, who was supposed to know of
the best, if not the only, place where we could
get through the range. We camped that night
at the cattle-yards at Arumbara Creek, and the
following day wandered in and out through
the range, camping at the foot of a high
escarped range the native name of which is
"Mareena." The following day, after some
more steep, severe, and stony travelling,
which was hard upon the heavily- loaded
camels, we reached the southern slopes of the
range and the Missionary Plain. Here Mr,
MacDonald left us. As a ship is left to the
captain to do the best he can when the pilot
retires so we were now left to make the best
way we could into the unknown west, Mr.
MacDonald parting company with every
kindly expression of good wishes for a long and
successful journey.
We travelled westerly along the south slopes
of the range for 50 or 60 miles. The country
near the range is well grassed, but the mulga
scrubs are very dense. The weather was warm,
and I did not think it wise to start into the
sandhill country towards Glen Edith without
giving the camels water, but this was not found
without some days of anxiety and great trouble,
for I did not like the idea of having to return
to the Arumbara Creek. On April 21, with the
camels rested, I directed the caravan towards
Glen Edith, which, through not having Giles's
journal, I did not find so easily as I ex-
pected, but on reaching the waterhole I
found there would be only two drinks
for the camels, so that it was impera-
tive that more should be found at once. Billy
and I therefore started, taking three fast
camels, intending to travel south-westerly for a
few days in the hope of finding fresh supplies.
We camped the first night at the foot of sand-
stone hills, about 20 miles from Glen Edith.
The morning had been hot and the weather
looked threatening, but I very fortunately
carried my small tent, and at dusk it was so
threatening that I put it up. The night was
dark as pitch with heavy clouds and rumbling
of distant thunder. A few desultory raindrops
fell and then ceased. The silence and oppress-
sive atmosphere, the rain having stopped, had
a strangely- depressing effect upon me, and
about 10 o'clock a tiny little shower as light as
spray fell, which was followed by an interval
of silence, so that I had almost given up the
hope of rain, when a steady heavy shower set
in, which sent all my apprehensions and
doubts to the winds, for by midnight it was
pouring down in torrents. This splendid rain
continued for four days and five nights almost
uninterruptedly. The little runnels and
channels were all running, sending streams of
beautiful water into the thirsty sands. On the
morning of the fifth day we started on the re-
turn journey to Glen Edith, arriving there the
same day, and found that the waterhole had
been quite filled up. The provisions and be-
longings had all been put under the tarpaulin,
which proved of such bad quality
that water poured through it every
where, and my companions were glad to
find dry quarters under the large overhanging
rock at the back of the waterhole, and every
thing had to be put out to dry upon the rocks.
Glen Edith was discovered by Ernest Giles on
Ootober 3, 1872, and it can be imagined what a
welcome and providential discovery it waa to
an explorer provided with horses only and ia
tbe critical position he was in to have found
water here. Exploring with camels in these
unknown regions ia Bomewhat hazardous, but
the wonderful and patient endurance of an. ex
ploring party equipped with horses alone can
only be understood by those who have at
tempted travelling in these latitudes. Ia the
following year Glen Edith was visited by the
expedition under the command of the late
Deputy- Surveyor- General, Mr. W. C. Gosse,
and it was visited by Mr. Chewinga. Aa illus
trating the growth that takes place I will
describe the marked trees that I found there.
Mr. Gosse selected a whitegum about 3 feet in
diameter, and marked in character 5 inches
in length 'G- O.S.,' with number of his depot, 6.
ThiB brand was quite overgrown, with the ex
ception of part of the O, and in a few more
years would have been completely overgrown,
Fred. Warman, by exercising the greatest
care, cut all round upon Mr. Gosse's original
marks, and very cleverly took oS the over
growth in one piece upon each side, so that the
blaze mark is now restored as when it was
first cut, and we here have the blocks with the
impmB of the initials. Mr. Giles's tree,
marked ' Glen Edith,' with date, was almost
indecipherable, The tree being wounded in
making the small characters, had rotted away,
bo that no impress could be secured. The tree
branded ' Carmiohael' was in a state of good
preservation, only the two first and last letters
being overgrown, We left Glen Edith on May
10, camping in Spinifix sandhills, Just as we
were Bitticg down to the evening meal a violent
thunderstorm broke over us, and the rain came
down ineheetsfor two hours, folio wed by a steady
soaking rain that lasted till 3 in the morning.
Blankets and other belongings tbat we had
taken so much pains to dry ware again all
soaked, and at dawn we presented a very
washed out appearance. Upon the camela
being brought up on the following morning
three were found to be suffering from the effects
of eating a poison plant, the symptoms being a
frothing at the mouth and trembling limbBj
They were so bad that I altered the courae
towards the spot where I had been overtaken
with the four days' rain and where I knew
water was to be obtained. A day's rest with
simple restoratives brought the [camels bo far
round as to enable them to travel. Proceeding
westerly over Spinifix sandhills a line of hills
was observed a few miles to the northward of
my course. These formed into a line of
cliffs or an escarpment facirjg the south
»nd being so near our course I thought quite
worthy of a vieit. We approached the cliff,
and followed it westerly for a few miles, when
a gum creek was observed running from tha
range towards tbe south. Approaching tbe
Borne or glenwhete it left the range I observed
it to be a sandstone formation, and a strong
stream of water wbb running. This waa a moat
beautifal spot where a few days could be spent
profitably, so tbe camels were unloaded, and
Billy and myself went up the creek to explore
its wonders. We found that the creek sepa
rated into three distinct channels. Folio win);
the principal one we found the creek to be
tunning through a glen with perpendicular
cliffs SO or 100 feet high on each Bide,
and fully three miles in length. We returned
to our cbaimiDgly-Bituated camp late in the
afternoon. The poisoned camels would be all
the better for a few day's rest, and my time
conld be devoted to observing, altering pack
eaddles, taking photographs and excursions
into the different gleiu in the neighborhood,
I have named thia fertile spot Gill's Creek,
after the hon, treasurer of tbe South Ana*
tralian branch of the Geographical Society,
and the bills whence it takeB its rise after Dr.
W. L. Cleland. of Patkeide. This water will
not be found to be always running, but in the
glen at tbe head of the creek, and which 1
have named after my sister Emily, large deep
pools will be found, four or five chains long,
10 and 16 feet deep, and eo shaded by rocks
from the sun that they cannot be looked upon
as otherwise than permanent.
After a very agreeable stay of three dayB we
resumed our journey to the westward. From
a low line of bills a few miles westerly from
Gill's Creek an extensive view Waa obtained of
the country to tbe westward. No feature of
prominence wsb to he Been in any direction,
The Cleland HillB could be seen stretohing
away to the north-west, and the horizon was
bounded by a dark and most unpromising waste,
, Aa there really was no choice I direoted the
caravan due west, and entered into spinifez
sandhills at onoe. (These continued tor 80 or SO
milsB, when hills were observed still further to
toe westward, the nearest being 20 miles
or more to the westward, bat I direoted
our «oane to ijsome low-lying rocks to
the southward, and found water in a native
well and abundance of feed for the camels.
Tbe view obtained from these rocks was more
intewBttng and favorable Uun that from the
faOIs at GuPs Greek. Tothe«mU» and atoat
60 mflei away » long and very promisrajr
»sge was observed. ^Thb I took to be Blood's
Baogeof G9et-'a expedition in 1874. Away to
the westward, and appearing as an enormoai
Dlafi in the dim distance, was a high range,
apparently running nearly east and west. A
very prominent hill of over 1,000 feet elevation
lay north- westerly distant about 30 miles. This
I named after Dr. Ronnie, of the Adelaide
University, and to some low hills westerly
from this I next directed the stepa of tha
party. In a wide and picturesque valley in these
bills a atresm of beautifully dear watac w»
running. The valley waa mostly coverei with
spinifez, but near the little stream, whioh waa
folly two miles long, kangaroo and other
coarse grasses -were found. This beine the
birthday of oar most gracious Qaeen we kept
high holiday, and the day before having been
fortunate enough to find an emu's neat with
seven or eight fresh eggs it was also devoted to
feasting. I cannot regard this water as a
permanent spring by any means, although
there were evidences around tbat the natives
congregate here in considerable numbers At
times. This fertile little valley received the
came Laura Vale after the daughter of one of
n-y companions, David Beetaon. From here I
took np a north-westerly coarse for tbe high
mountain seen from the rocks at the native
well, Aa I approached this imposing-looking
feature I had hopes, that from its slopes
a watercourse or system of Buca would be
found that would empty themselves into Lake
AitadenB, which I thought now lay to the
south of us. Upon the second day after
leaving Laura Vale we were camped at the
foot of this imposing range, but bitter were my
feelings of disappointment at finding that not
a single watercourse existed anywhere at its
base, Spinifez was all around, and only at
one Bpot, a small patch of about 20 acres,
could any feed be found for the camels.
During our stay here we were visited by
three days of very heavy rain ; and very for
tunate it was so, otherwise tbe neighborhood
would not have been examined so carefully,
as all BeaTchingB tot minerals were fruitless.
No watercourse worth mentioning was to be
found, nor any spring or place where water
could collect. Thia imposing range was
named after h?B Excellency the Governor Lord
, J?tore« and itB highest peaka, whioh are
1,610 feet above the plain, Mount Leialer and
Mount Strickland. From the summit of the
latter an extensive view of the surroaading
country was obtained. A very high and im
posing mountain range was observed about 60
miles to the north-east, and thia I dedicated to
the Hon. Dr. Campbell, the chairman of the
board of directors to the association under
whose auspices the expedition took the field.
To the eastward was observed a lonsr range of
nulB, whioh I named the Magarey Range
after the hon. secretary to the S. A. branch of
the Geographical Society, and the highest
peak I named Mount Lyell Brown after the
Government Geologist. Northerly a line of
hills was observed, which I named tbe
Dufaur Hills after Mr, Eccleston Da
faur, of Sydney, wno for years has
labored unsuccessfully in endeavoring to
unravel tbe fate of the late Dr. Leichardt.
South westerly, and about 26 miles distant to
its neareBtiPttt, lay a large expanse ox Bait
lake, whioh I named Lake Macdonald, after the
hon. secretary to the Victorian Geographical
Society. A substantial caira of stone waa built
upon this, the highest peak of the Kiatore
Range, Mount Lsuler, which can be aeea for
60 or 70 miles in every direction ; and it is a
matter for regret that instead of its offering
welcome rest and refreshment to the weary
traveller, it must always be viewed as a. beacon
of warning, as the lighthouse at sea warns the
mariner of points of danger. So the only prac
tical result of my visit to this place is that this
mountain will serve to warn the future traveller
to keep away from thia inhospitable region.
On Friday, May 31, we started away towards
the lake seen from the top of the range, which
I thought might poBfibly be the western ex
tremity of Lake Amadeuj. After two dajfet
travel we reached the share of the lake. It was
a bright clear day, and the effects of the
mirage were euch that the lake seemed to
extend indefinitely to the south wards, and upoa
each eide an attractive looking range that ap
peared about 25 miles away. Travelling
westerly and following the course of the lake
I reached the soutn side after four days'
journey from where I first struck its Bhorea.
Sandhills, epieifex, and oaka extend down to
its edge. A few daypana were found near the
lake, and upon these our safety depended.
We had now advanced eo far to the westward
that to return by the same route was quite im
possible. The last permanent water was at
Gill's Creek. The claypans were, in most
cages, drained of their scanty supply when we
ltft them, bo that we were all keenly on the
luck out for water as we journeyed on. Upio
the south eide of Lake Macdonald there are a
few miles of nicely grassed country and opsn
mulga flats with Bigna and evidences of a large
native population. With feelings of regret I no' v
tuned my steps to the eastward. My duty
acd instructions told me to go no farther west,
..butmuch as I should have wished to continue
in that direction* there waB no inducement foe
me to do bo. The same sandy country ex
tended as far aa I could see. The next feature
of interest that 1 visited was tbe inviting look
ing range that I saw from Mount Leialer and
'from the north shore of the lake, and thia I
earned after Mr, J. L. Bonython, a member
of iihe.coBncjl of the S.A. Geographical
Society..? Here I was again doomed to dis
appointment, for neither water nor grass was
found, and I was glad when daylight came
to allow of my leaving one of the most
objectionable camps of the whole journey.
From the top of this range the lake could be
Been about eight miles to the northward, and
to its shore I now directed tbe caravan, It
happened to be quite a dull sunless day, and
there being less refraction the real outline of
the lake could be approximately sketched. I
estimated it to be about 15 miles eaat and west,
and perhaps 10 or 12 north and south, From
this point I directed the course so that it
should intersect Lake Amadeus, bb shown
upon our maps. Travelling over sandy country
until in the latitude of Mount Unapproachable
without meeting with any salt lake, I was now
only a tew miles from Blood's Range of Giles,
It presented a bold and attractive appearance,
so I visited the range, naming the highest points
Mounts Hartis and Carruthers, both gentlemen
of the Trigonometrical Survey Department.
From the top of Mount Harris, which is 1,400
feet above the plain, Mount Olga is distinctly
visible, also the Peterman Range and the high
peaks of the Tomkinson Range. From here I
travelled easterly for three days, and reached
the Bhores of a Bait lake. At the western ex
tremity and on the north shore waa a sand
stone range- which I called Long's Range, after
my brother-in-law, Mr. John Long, of Sydney.
Two long arms of the lake extended in a
northerly direction nearly to the foot of thia
range. Travelling easterly and along the north
Bhore of this lake for about 20 miles, some low
sandBtone bills were met with, which reached
to within two miles of the north shore
of the lake. From the top of this hill
I could tee the lake extending beyond the
limits of vision to the southeast, and as there
were no other hills in that direction it became
dear that the west extremity of Long'a Range
must be the Mount Unapproachable of Giles,
Lake Amadeus may therefore be said to be a
long narrow channel, the western end for 20
miles being nowhere more than 5 miles in
width. From bere I directed my steps to
Mount Olga and Avers Rock, These of
course have been visited by the expeditions of
Mr. Gosse and Mr. Giles. The enormous ex
tent, the wonderful outline, the majesty of
these monolithB, their wonderful appearance
under every condition of light and shade, must
form the snbject for another paper, but there ia
no place to be met with in the whole of the
western interior that the traveller will
retain such pleasant memories of as Mount
Olga and Ayera Rock, While at Lake AmadeuB
two of my camels partook of a poisonous plant.
I hoped that a week's rest would have enabled
them to recover from its effects, but one of
them gradually sank and died, and the other
being unable to travel was left there. From
Ayers Rock I directed the caravan easterly
to Mount Connor, Billy the black trackei
followed up some natives' tracks, and these
took him to a native well which seemed to me
to be a strong spring, and a very weloome and
valuable discovery it was. I waa much tempted
to swerve from the original programme and
visit the Muegrave RangeB from this point, for
they appeared bo temptingly close, bat I de
cided to visit an invitinsr looking range that lay
about 30 miles to the northward. These
hills were named the Kernot Range,
after Profeeeor Kernot of the Melbourne
University. Easterly from there, and distant
about 36 miles, is a range of hills that I name!
after Mr. Basedow, M.P., of thia city. After
two days' journey from here we arrived at Erl
dunda station, the property of Messrs, Wac
buiton & Tomlin, who gave as a warm ami
Marty welcome.
Circumstances now compelled me to mike
for tbe telegraph line, but aa the position of
the Goyder Springs had never been deter
mined and the country south- easterly from
there bad not been mopped, I thought there
was still a small field of usefulness open far
me, and that discoveries ol water positions
naiRht be found. Travelling south- westerly fxom
Erldnnda tbe Goyder Springs were reached.
The. e are mound springs at the edge of salt
lagoon 8, the water being beautifully fresh
and running strong from little mounda where
the springs ars situated. The native names
for these springs are ' Elinbucra' and ' Koo
lida.' The supply of water ia praotioally un
limited, and there is splendid grazing country
in tbe vicinity. From this point we travelled
over fairly good country For six days, and then
reached Eringa station, the property of Mr.
J. J. Duncan, M P. Oar short stay was
rendered both pleasant and agreeable by the
hospitality of Mr. Treloar, the manager. We
were now ouly a few miles from the Charlotte
Waters telegraph station, and exploring was
quite at an end. I would take this opportunity
of recording my acknowledgments of Che boar* ,
teey and hind amstanoe of the directors and
secretary of the Central Australian Ex
ploring and Prospecting . Association. Tfce
objects' of tbe journey were to explore
and ptorpeet. I most deem myself * for
tunate if you will concede that I have
fulfilled one of these objects, and in doting
this paper I effer ? tribute of praise to
my companion* for their co-operation and
ftRtttesee in every lnirlertBkrng connected with .
this interestiiigbat^eventfal journey. :
Protestor Tate said the rooks brought back
*tM*.' TietkhM contained no great promiae,
although they showed thai the country waam
mat put of » metamorpbic character. The
botanies! collection brought back by Mr. Tiet
kiM. ^ * T?*y rich one, and represented
neatly 300 epeeies. It shoved, however, a woe
foBj desert character, and if he had known
nothing of the meteorological conditions he
would have said, judging from the plant
species, that they were obtained from what
was stni a desert country. The collection had
added several species to oar province which
mast have come in from the dry country to the
north- west. There were a few nndescribed
snecieB which would not be made known to
the public until after consultation withSaron
Von Mueller. He regretted that the sped
nuns obfiamed even from the McDonneO
Ranges— which appeared to have dwindled
down to very little more than some peaks near
Adelaide, and where they had formerly antici
pated obtaining something like an Alpine or
Soul h Alpine flora— were still of a desert type;
The specimens from Mount Sonders showed
that in anything like recent times that eppt
has enjoyed no better climate than it does
to-day.
On the motion of the Hon. G. W. Cottov,
M.L.O.J it was determined ' That for pur
pose* of general information it ia desirable tbat
the discoveries mode by Mr. Tietkens should
be published, with maps and descriptions of
the country' travelled over, and an account of
what it ib likely to grow.'
Mr. G. W. Gotdkb (Surveyor General) aaid
that although as an t Sort to increase the extent
of onr mineral and pastoral resources Mr,
Tietkens'e expedition might have been a com
parative failure, yet the route which he had
travelled might Berve as a most useful bftse for
after-comets. Mr. TietkeoB'B journey proved
that no large river. aB had been hoped, flowed
into Lake Amadeus, and only gave another
proof tbat the interior of Australia consists of
a series of low mountains with shallow basins,
which in wet seasons form lakes and in dry
EeatonB evaporate. He moved a vote of thanks
to the chairman, and expressed his gratitude
to and sympathy with Mr. Tietkens.
On tbe motion of Mr. W. D. Gltdk,
seconded by Mr. A. S. Neill, a hearty vote
of thanks was acoirded to Mr. Tietkena.
The motion was carried by acclamation, as
wsb also the vote of thanks to the chairman.
The native guide from Alice Springs, who was
eo successful in finding water for the expedi
tion, was present among the audience.
$