Large Herds of Wild Cattle Reported

The following is a remarkable statement made by Hack, which is hard to understand. It must be read in conjunction with a report by Geharty, which will be mentioned in its appropriate place. If they were Baker's cattle, and assuming Geharty's Mount Sorrel should be Mount Serle, how did the cattle get into the western district ? I think I am safe in saying no one saw their tracks leading westward. Baker had land a long way north of Port Augusta, but that must have been on the east side of Lake Torrens. There were no pastoralists on the west side of the lake in the beginning of 1857, for C. Bonney (Commissioner of Crown Lands) wrote to Hulkes, "No one has however got out to the westward of the lake, where Mr. Oakden once took up a run.''

Can we leave this hanging in mid air, a mystery ? Trying to reason it out, there appear to be four courses. Firstly, accept Geharty's statement that the cattle came from Baker's Mount Sorrel (Serle ?) station;
secondly, that they were part of Baker's cattle being driven overland by Dutton, and made their way north westerly;
thirdly (here I am like a drowning man, reaching out for any straw), can any reader say what he came of the cattle or their descendents taken by Leichhardt on his last trip leaving Moreton Bay in 1848 ?;
fourthly, that these cattle, referred to by Hack, had nothing to do with those mentioned in Geharty's report, but that they were the unidentified buffalo. Any one of these is just as reasonable as any of the others.

Here is Hack's remarkable statement : "The natives tell me that there are large herds of wild cattle to the north of the lake, but of the truth, of the report I cannot answer, if true, there is, without doubt, good country."

Of course the land to the north of the lake was the Wingilpiu country previously referred to — but Hack did not know that report — therefore it must be good.

GOOD COUNTRY

From Kundery the parly went to Koleymirrika, one of the names given by Hulkes as the name of a lake to the north-west. With Hack, it is a spring in a very steep rocky creek in a high range, of small value and hard to get at. An old native, Pinegutta, was perfectly familiar with all the names quoted by Hulkes, but had never been there himself, saying, "big one swan and duck sit down" and "big one water," pointing to the north-east for all except Koleymirrika, which lay eight miles west of Kimdery.

Yardea was the next creek to be encountered, full of springs, but most of the water was at the top of the range. Poudauna was a small spring, but a good supply of water. The Koleymirrika Valley was about equally divided between forest oak and salt bush country, on one aide, and on the other clear grass plains.

The journey was continued south ward. First class country was seen in every direction until three miles south of Pondanna, where the scrub extending from Mount Centre was met, which continued to Kokondo, a good permanent creek of water. Two miles further on Puttamarring, another large permanent water, was met surrounded by good country within feeding distance of Eureka Bluff and Conical Hill.

Yandina Springs was the next calling place and here some land was seen "very fit for cultivation" and from there to Mount Sturt was open grassy plain which he named Prospect Valley. Mount Sturt stands 10 miles out from the main range, to which it is connected by a low rise. Near here a large flock of red breasted cockatoos which had apparently just left water, was seen. Search revealed a lot of good springs in a creek with abundance of water reed. Cockatoo Springs was the appropriate name applied to the situation. Sunday, August 16, was spent at these springs.

The horses being fresh, Hack, being tired of doing nothing went for a ride around and found two of the largest springs yet seen, one running a strong stream, their names were Polturkana and Paney. From this Paney appears to be an aboriginal name. I have often wondered at its significance.

SITE FOR HEAD STATION

From a commanding hill Hack saw good country all round, being heavily grassed ; the useless portion (porcupine ranges and scrub) were much less than usual. A return northward was made, passing a running creek Narrenie aud Muddera water. Further on two creeks, then running were seen, and the native Wolgutta said they were permanent. The smaller was called Kinnabinnie and the larger Kolay, with fine clear open grass country in every direction. Kolay was suggested as a place for a head station. Tarkumbledoo, near Mount Double, was said to be permanent water. A spring, Nukay, was seen high up on the side of a range.

Leaving Nukay on August 24, they crossed the range into the Kolay Valley camping at Pindarriby, a large watering place, said to be permanent and in "tolerable country." Still northward went the explorers, pass ing Koleymirrika and camping in a "beautiful valley of considerable extent." The party was sent to Kun dery, while Hack and Harris climbed " The Hill of the Plains," where they had a most extensive view of a very large tract of wide open country, chiefly grass, so far as Hack could guess. Native tracks at the old Kundery camp were plentiful, but no natives were seen. From Kundery a southern course was steered to find the end of the Great Lake. The men camped at Mount Not, a bold round hill and very difficult to climb. About 12 miles south of Kundery useful country was seen, some very good. Here for a change a dry camp was made. Natives found a spring on the other side of the flat with no native name, so Spring Hill was applied. South east was Tandaie. The country around these two waters would make a first-class cattle run, said Hack.

NATIVE LEAVES PARTY

Rocky and Harry Springs were found and named. It would be about here that the native guide left the party, and from there onward Hack had to depend on himself. The southern end of the lake was rounded. The flat was covered with samphire. To view the country, while the men were searching for water, Hack climbed a hill which he named Mount Ive. Hack did not say who the hill was named after, neither did he mention the name of the man he procured from Price Maurice to replace Billy Grant ; he may have been white, he may have been black. Was Ive the man borrowed, or did Miller suggest the name to Hack ? Later on it will be seen that a man named Fred Ive accompanied Geharty on his exploratory trip.

He was a most remarkable map maker. Mr. H. B. Ive, a son of Mr. Fred Ive, has given some particulars of his father and his uncle Charles George, from which it is gathered that his uncle was the first to leave England, sailing for South Australia on March 17, 1855. In the following year Fred Ive arranged for his brother to get land for a sheep station, and after making that arrangement left England and arrived in South Australia on March 11, 1857, that is, just two months before Hack left Adelaide on his exploration. There is nothing definite about Fred's movements until June, 1858, when he was associated with Geharty.

In 1859 one of the Ives was associated with Miller, whether Fred or Charles George can not be said, but feels inclined to think it was the former. Seeing that Fred only arrived at March 11, is it reasonable to suppose that he went direct to Streaky Bay and arrived there before June 22, when Hack left on his exploration accompanied by Miller? If so, then of a surety the mount was named after him, otherwise it seems as if it was the brother who must have been honored.

(Another Instalment Next Week.)