EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF MICHAEL TERRY, F.R.G.S.

I MET Richard Yockney in Winton, Western Queensland, and we decided to try to cross to the West Coast in a motor-car. We bought an old Ford for £50, and during two months we rebuilt it and specially equipped it for the journey. People were inquisitive as to plans during our preparations, and when we gave out that Broome was our destination, only sarcastic advice followed.

On setting out we had only £8 2s. 3d. left between us, so we turned ourselves into itinerant mechanics so as to get money for running expenses.

February 171h.—We heard to-day that we are known as Mutt and Jeff the Explorers. It was 123° to-day. Heavy thunderstorms all around. A thick dust storm just missed the homestead where we are repairing their car. Two bush fires started by storms over Corella way. Left after tea to fight them. Up most of night.

March 8th.—On the road at grey light. Travelling very heavy on the black soil. Puncture two ;miles out. Pegged along very depressed as there didn't seem a chance to get through. Badly bogged twice. Got to Kynuna at midday (40 miles). Delighted. Wonderful girl at the pub. Typical Charles Garvice character. Beautiful, and handles men like children, myself included. Went over to the station and worked their car.

March 30th.—Great surprise to-day. During afternoon, Bennett from " Tall-Tall " rode over in his Sunday best. Asked why we were working. Couldn't understand why we shouldn't till he told us it was Good Friday. We then realized we had completely lost track of time. April 6th.—Repairing car at Olive's selection. We went to bed at 8.30 as usual. Olive himself blew in from McKinlay with friend, both rather happy. Got gramophone going and got his daughters up to dance. This at 11.30. Terrible for bush people, but then these are half French.

July 2nd.—Camped at a new silver lead find sixty miles out from Duchess on the Camooweal track. Inspected the mine. Advised by miners to peg out alongside, but, as we are for the " Territory," declined with thanks.

July 3rd.—Passed through Camooweal and got benzine, also tinned meat for emergency. Pulled out of town towards sundown, crossed into the Northern Territory half an hour later. No wood in sight, so had to chip bits off a fence strainer post and collect bits of bark for our fire. Bitterly cold to-night. Strong S.E. wind. On huge open plain. July 4th.--Camped at Rankin River, where the yearly - race meeting is being held. Absolutely flat and no trees. One store and police barracks. No telegraph. Everyone camped out except the six white women who are living in the lock-up.

July 5th.—Dick and I pooled our clothes and I took the

best set so as to go to the races. , Dick stayed " bush " as he wasn't respectable !

July 6th.—Passed through Alexandria Station. Crossed a plain 30 miles wide, no trees, but only grass a few inches high.

July 7th.—Awfully cold and very windy to-day. Arrived at Alroy Station this evening. Largest pack horse mail in Australia passes here. It does 1,000 miles a month.

August 61h.—On the go once more. Track finishes here. We have huge plains ahead and Government sub-artesian bores every twenty miles or so. Ground honeycombed with " paddy-melon " holes. Had very often to dig out the wheels as these holes open up enormously if any weight passes over them. Our guide is only a rough cattle pad. Very little timber, just open plain with tufts of grass over which we bump at 3 m.p.h. maximum speed. Sir Ross Smith came down at a spot about 20 miles on our way. Before getting to No. 2 bore, saw some stock on our right. All of a sudden a curious looking, tall, grey-brown beast left the herd and started coming at a 'great pace straight at us. Realized it was a bull buffalo. Dick loaded up revolvers, but being too small a calibre for a sure kill we had to hold our fire. The buffalo slid to a halt just close to where we had to pass. Couldn't leave the pad as it was too rough. Had to pass very close to it. After we were by he came at us again, but at the critical moment swerved off, watching us go by. His curiosity was soon appeased and he trotted back to the herd. His horns were about seven feet long, growing straight back from the head. A small hunip behind the shoulders. About half as large again as a. bullock. Species of water buffalo imported in early daYs by Dutch. August llth.—Set out again. Met two blacks in the scrub. One was a dwarf with a huge head. Both had spears and boomerangs, looked warlike but were only station boys on " walk-about." Yarned with a teamster going to Daly Waters. Arrived at a water boring contractor's camp. Agreed to put in two days' work for an eight-gallon drum of benzine. Blacks brought word that our friend the teamster had been tomahawked by a black an hour or so after we had left him. Runner sent out to police at New- castle Waters.

August 12th.—Worked all day. After tea at night we went to the working blacks and watched the young gins practising corroboree dances. Music supplied by a didjiri-du. This is a long hollow bent tree root, five feet long. They blow down it intermittently, while others chant and beat sticks together. August 141h.—As we left camp we saw blind black Come over to mill for water, led by attendant, both holding a long ,stick between them. They carried away water in " coolamon," i.e., a vessel two feet long hollowed out of wood, like a boat. Plenty of grass on top of water to stop splashing. At Murranja Water-holes saw the grave of " A. McDonald," a drover who died of fever last year. Buried beneath pile of stones with a blazed tree as headstone. Camped near Kismet Soak ; a traveller with pack horses joined us as we were eating. He gave us sketch maps of country to the Victoria River, one hundred miles west. August 15th.—Passed Yellow Water-holes and arrived at Jump-up at sundown. We are at edge of Barclay Tableland which has not been crossed since Camooweal. Saw a barrow hung up in tree where man perished last March in trying to get through pushing his all in a barrow. Nice reminder for us. Had to work on compass bearings to-day. Tall grass makes travelling very slow and dangerous. Afraid hot exhaust pipe might start bush fire. August 171h.—Tied tree on behind car getting down off Tableland. Numbers of creek and river crossings to-day. Did about eight miles. Dick nearly stepped on a Diamond snake, seven feet long. Lucky escape, very poisonous. Used winch at one creek to pull car out. Attached it to base of small tree which came down and just missed us. Got water in billabong beside Armstrong River. August 18th.—Blazed " Terry and Yockney. 17/8/23 " on large gum tree beside a lagoon. Tea finished to-day. Drinking sweetened hot water. Dingoes troubled us at night. Came right up to camp and snapped a bit of meat a foot or two from me. • Couldn't sleep much for their howls and yaps. Had some shots at them and got one. August 19th.—Terrible limestone ridges had to be crossed. Lost our bearings and missed the crossing over the Armstrong River. Couldn't trace our mistake, so slept anxiously. August 20th.—We left the car and separated to explore. Returned at midday and found Dick had located the crossing. Tea very much missed. Got to crossing by sundown ; used winch to get over. Banks twenty feet deep. Pick and sho'vel preparation.

August 24th.—Reached Townshend River after some awful motoring () Last ten miles took two days. Last water used, so very anxious as water is not certain at the river. However, black cockatoos rose from some timber and we found a soak all right. Still no tea. August 25th.—Still on dead reckoning. Mount Wollaston sighted during day. Course altered due west' for Victotia

River. Car lost in high grass as we walked about hunting for firewood. August 26th.—Fuel getting low and all bottom gear work, so we can't hang out very long. While examining ground ahead Dick came across fence accidentally. Great joy as it must be what we are after. Cut ft and took car through and got to river by midday. Crossed over by sundown and then ran river up. Camped on plain• and very cold, too. August 27th.—Arrived Wave Hill Station, 800 miles from Newcastle Waters. Stockmen would not believe we had got across to Murranji track, but our answers at last con- vinced them. Chinaman cook said, " Moloto clar good feller too muchee, go evelywhere, beat 'em horsee." August 29th.—Crossing Grave Creek both axles got caught up on high stones. Had a long job levering car off, as the wheels were clear of the ground. Got to old cattle yards at the Swan River at sundown. Found all the country burnt and blackened. Big bush fire to the west. Black threatening clouds banking up. Heat of fire made blankets unnecessary for the night. Reflections of fire on clouds made it possible to read long after dark. Rain seems a certainty, so our chances of perishing are big as we can't move as we are between two rivers. Hardly slept all night. August 80th.—Started moving as grey light appeared. Couldn't get our bearings as the wagon tracks we had to pick up were covered over with blackened grass. Found river running contrary to map. Proved this by flood wood left after wet season. Started running up the river instead of down, as directed. Very " windy " as this meant we must soon leave it and strike into waterless country. Had to get a move on as the bush fire crept round behind us and started coming our way. Change' of wind cleared the sky. Later in the day came across burning country ahead. Trapped 1 Resolved to get through face of fire. Found stony patch of ground ; rushed car through this gap in the face. Close shave as flames flared up to fifteen feet high in tall, dry grass. Came across burnt country again soon, so had a spell and examined ear for damage. Luckily clean sheet.

August 31st.—Hit Sturt Creek this. morning. Ran it down to Wallamunga water-hole. Struck S.W. from there and joined the creek again at Sweetwater Lagoon. Crossed there and struck due south for the station twenty-four miles away. Left Mt. Wittenoom on our left. Fuel finished four miles from creek. Abandoned car but burnt grass round it in case of a- fire coming along. Cooked Johnnie cakes to-night.

September 1st.—Started walking before daylight. Used . stars as guide as we were on a plain. Came to scrub country, , at midday, of the waterless variety. Directions clear, so started into it, but anxious as well, for we expected a plain right to the station. At sundown so tired out that we couldn't lay still. Bitterly cold night as we had no blankets.

September 2nd.—Walking again before sun-up. By midday both of us very weary. Chewing pebbles to allay thirst. Using sticks to help walking. Struck track running E.—W. soon after midday. Decided to go east as we were far enough south. Towards sundown Dick tore up private papers as he reckoned we were going to perish. Constant resting essential, so progress very slow. By sundown both of us about done in. Tiny soak found in nick of time as another quarter-mile would have been too late. Became very ill and weak after drinking. Decided to go further east.

September 3rd.—Back at soak again after drawing a blank. I couldn't go further so Dick started going west to try and get somewhere. I sat down and waited.

September 4th.—Chewed leaves and ate grasshoppers. Smoked continuously. Kept hearing wheels coming through the bush. Too weak to stand. Bitterly cold night as usual.

September 5th.-4.80. Turnout appeared coming through. the scout. Intense relief. Am rescued.

September 6th.—Drove to the station. Heard Dick's story. He kept walking till he found a fence. As it must be close to honiestead, reaction caused him to collapse. Found by friendly blacks who took word to homestead. Horses mustered and plant assembled to go for me in a hurry. Fear I may have shot myself.

September 12th.—Finished spell and found station had three gallons benzine, so went out with pack horses to find car. Located it easily by a bearing on Mt. Wittenoom. Compass showed homestead S.W. x W. of Sweetwater, not due south.

September leth.—Arrived Hall's Creek, Western Australia. Got more supplies and set -out along a track for Derby at the mouth of the Fitzroy River.

September 181h.—Arrived Derby.

October 2n1L—No one willing -to buy ear in Derby, so we started for Broome. Put in a day crocodile shooting at the river.

October 4th.—Arrived at Broome with only £12 left; but sold car for £100, so clearing up this situation satisfactorily. Great feting when news got around that we were the first men to cross the Continent in a motor-car, our total travelling *Allusion' to offer of miners. See -entry July 2nd above. being 2,700 miles, of which 800 was through trackless open country and had taken us eight months to accomplish. P.S.—If we had said " yes "s on July '2nd; we would have Cleared up £10,000.