carried on. Down the river for 7 miles the prospecting gave only negative results, and this is remarkable in view of the fact that the site of the subsequent Lukinville rush must have been passed over. The Lukinville gold was in the form of fine dust, and for the most part went to reward the industry and patience of Chinese diggers.
Up the river, the flying party, consisting of Hann, Taylor, Warner and Jerry, met with more success. The first camp was made on 9th August, 5 miles east of Camp 20 (about north of Mount Daintree), and further encouraging traces of gold were found. The second camp, of 10th August, was 5 miles further up the river, say at the mouth of the creek on the west side of Mount Fox. Here gold was found in the bed of the river. The sight of fresh cattle droppings gave rise to high hopes of an addition to the supply of meat, but the hunt for the cattle led to nothing. The third camp was reached in four hours of travelling on 12th August, and the distance may be estimated at 10 miles, which would place the camp about on the site of Palmerville. The latitude is given as 15° 32′ 34″ S. That of Palmerville, according to the 4-mile map, is 15° 59′. The results of prospecting here were "more flattering than hitherto," and Hann was now in hopes of being on the right track for discovering a goldfield.
On 13th August, a further progress of 12 miles was made up the river, the men prospecting on the way, with results "more or less favourable" and the fourth camp was probably about the mouth of Sandy Creek.[1] Gold was found in the river bed at the camp of 13th August.
On 14th August, the party went 17 miles up the Palmer, cutting off bends of the river where it was possible to do so. The camp of 14th August was about a mile below the mouth of Granite Creek.[2] During the day, gold was found in the bed of the Palmer as well as in ravines on both sides. About half-way, Hann must have passed the site of Maytown, afterwards the official centre of the Palmer Goldfield.
On 15th August, leaving Jerry in camp in charge of two horses, one of which had lost a shoe and been lamed by the sharp slates, Hann and Warner prospected the river above the camp, again finding gold, and afterwards ascended a high hill, from which a view up the valley gave the impression that the country was too rough for further progress. This hill, Hann's furthest east, is without doubt the one which subsequently received the name of Mount Hann.
Returning to the camp, preparations for the return journey were
- ↑ The "Sandy Creek" of the Palmer, not the Sandy Creek of the Mitchell already mentioned.
- ↑ "Granite Creaks" are nearly as common as "Sandy Creeks." Both belong to a family, which includes Stony Creeks, Oaky Creeks, etc., descriptive of some characteristic of the creek where it was first met with, and the name is of no topographical value.
