nety
yards wide." This was named the Palmer, and here Warner, the surveyor
found traces of gold. A further examination of the river resulted in
likely-looking results being obtained; and the discovery is now a matter
of history, the world-wide Palmer rush to north Queensland being the
result in 1874.

On the 1st of September, Hann reached his northern limit, and the next
day commenced the ascent of the range dividing the eastern and western
waters. A few days afterwards, he sighted the Pacific at Princess
Charlotte Bay. From this point the party returned south, and came to a
large river which he called the Normanby, where a slight skirmish with
the natives occurred, the blacks having hitherto been on friendly terms.
While the men were collecting the horses in the morning, the natives
attempted to cut them off, each native having a bundle of spears. A few
shots at a long distance were sufficient to disperse them, and the affair
ended without bloodshed.

On the 21st of September, Hann crossed the historical Endeavour River,
and upon a small creek running into this inlet, he lost one of his horses
from poison. Below the Endeavour, the party encountered similar
difficulties to those that dogged poor Kennedy's footsteps --
impenetrable scrub and steep ravines. This went on for some days, and an
attempt to reach the seashore involved them in a perfect sea of scrub,
and necessitated the final conclusion that advance by white men and
horses was impossible. Hann had reluctantly to make up his mind to return
by the Gulf Coast, and abandon the unexplored ground to the south of him.

After many entanglements in the ranges, and confusion arising from the
tortuous courses of the rivers, the watershed was at last crossed, and on
the 28th of October they camped once more on the Palmer, whence they
safely returned along their outward course.

The gold discoveries on the Palmer, and the rush caused thereby, coming
soon after this expedition, led to a great deal of minor exploration done
under the guise of prospecting; and it is greatly to the work of
prospectors for gold that much of the knowledge of the petty details of
the geographical features of Australia is due. To the courage and
endurance of this class of settler, Australia owes a great debt, but
their labours are unrecorded and often forgotten.

PART 2. CENTRAL AUSTRALIA.

[Illustration. Statue of John McDouall Stuart, in the Lands Office,
Sydney.]

CHAPTER 11. EDW