1948 Archbold Cape York Expedition Journal of G. H. H. Tate. December1, 1947-October27, 1948
Page 115
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Transcription
old bridge. South of that a succession of monstrous ridges with sandy hollows intervening led to Dale Saranere - large swampy lake - on our right (west). One more ridge ran on the Tardine River (100 yards wide). Camp was finally placed at the 5 foot of the last ridge by a little swampy Copond subject to a 3-4-foot rise in flood time. Then Saranere is 1/2 miles away north of the Tardine crossing 1 mile south - but the river can be reached only 300 yards east by crossing a knee-deep ox-bow. The land is poor and sandy. The boy Roy & I put out to traps. That evening I hunted back along the road to Saranere. All I saw was a flying fox on the wing. Then an lot of spindled plants, flowers, and ferns to mark a harvest. Wed 19. Nothing whatever in the traps. We had 3 lines: one along the lagoon & its approach slopes (35 Taps); 15 more up on the monstrous ridges; and 20 more along the banks of the Tardine. Later, when taking a "walk-about", found an old dead male wallaby (Mac. gilis), and saved the skull. Probably it came to this desolate land to die. Then. Jackin' last night: 1 wallaby (sand) with Cape "joey". May 20. Only have one other. Killed a night hawk by error. Today traps empty - undisturbed. In p.m. used wallaby carcass to bait drip traps - drag-hair. Jackin'. Shot a jecko in "Cypotomus" at river side, right at road crossing. This is certainly a duck of a camp. Fri. May 21 Picked up traps.