1948 Archbold Cape York Expedition Journal of G. H. H. Tate. December1, 1947-October27, 1948
Page 175
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Transcription
practically all soil (if there ever was soil) has been eroded out, leaving only the past little circle of rock. We are after rock wallabies (Petrogale). We stay until Tuesday, Sept. 21. Mon Sep.20. Traps out last night, 20 nat, 15 still, produced nothing. All thru, hunted along the base of the granite, afterwards Van & I went thru with jack lights. Saw two "jocky beard" (harded geckos). Very early this a.m. the thru if we went out again (long before sunrise), with equal results. Despite the presence of the spring this area seems almost desert of mammals. I did see dry droppings of wallaroo size, & the night before, up on the rocks, very dry seen- shredded droppings of rock wallaby. After breakfast Norman leads for the Annan River Falls at the end of Black Mt., while Van & I worked around the base to its north & investigated the scrubby place Norman told us of the day before. Almost no signs of rock wallaby. Norman went back to the Annan Pines Dales, where an old native, Friday, had previously taken the rock wallabies, as he returned in the afternoon with one female with a young fiver in her pouch. Her pattern is relating marked: grey; band of tail Fairy feed plains Tanny; tail, Land, feet black. SHR 2 Scotiemi in evening. Tues, Sep. 21. Trapped 1 Rockmops, 1 Satarellus. Went hunt rock wallabies in Annan Gorge - Ponce in camp by 10. Skinned. Norman Wathen & truck arrived 11 - reached Coletting 1.30 p.m. Reopening. Arranged trip to Alderbury (mile 24) for one rock wallabies & Cato to Scaprian Dam (Sat.-Sunday). For premium from Guyt, Bifilta Police to stop town grounds; Van other Tone (a Trichonurus). Wed. Sep. 22. Had talk with Carlton Olive no hunt. Arranged Saturday trip in Donny Savage's pick-up. Seyt Bifilta, ending at his tracker Sammy for weekend. Seen note that on topo to go on Hardman.