From December, 1844, to the end of April of the following year, the prevailing winds were from E.N.E. to E.S.E., after that month they were variable, but westerly winds predominated.  The south wind was always cold, and its approach was invariably indicated by the rise of the barometer.

The rain of July commenced in the north-east quarter and gradually went round to the north-west; but more clouds rose from the former point than from any other.  The sky generally speaking was without a speck, and the dazzling brightness of the moon was one of the most distressing things we had to endure when out in the bush.  It was impossible indeed to shut out its light which ever way one turned, and its irritating effects were remarkable.

It will be observable to those who cast their eyes over the chart of South Australia that the range of mountains between St. Vincent’s Gulf and the Murray river runs up northwards into the interior.  In like manner the ranges crossed by the Expedition also ran in the same direction.  The Black Rock Hill, so named by Captain Frome, is in lat. 32 degrees 45 minutes and in the 139th meridian, and is the easternmost of the chain to which it belongs.  Mount Gipps on the Coonbaralba range is in lat. 31 degrees 52 minutes and in long. 141 degrees 41 minutes, but from that point the ranges trend somewhat to the westward of south, and consequently, may run nearer to that (of which the Black Rock Hill forms so prominent a feature) than we may suppose, but there is a distance of nearly 150 miles of country still remaining to be explored, before this point can be decided.  Nevertheless, it is more than probable the two chains are in some measure connected, especially as they greatly resemble each other in their classification.  They are for the most part composed of primary igneous rocks, amongst which there is a general distribution of iron, and perhaps of other metals.  The iron ore, however, that was discovered during the progress of the Expedition, of which Piesse’s Knob is a remarkable specimen, was of the purest kind.

It was, as has been found in South Australia, a surface deposit, protruding or cropping out of the ground in immense clean blocks.  This ore was highly magnetic; the veins of the metal run north and south, the direction of the ranges, as did a similar crop on the plains at the S.E. base of the ranges.  Generally speaking there was nothing bold or picturesque in the scenery of the Barrier Range, but the Rocky Glen and some few others of a similar description were exceptions.  As the Barrier Range ran parallel to the coast ranges, so there were other ranges to the eastward of the Barrier Range, running parallel to it, and they were separated by broad plains, partly open and partly covered with brush.  The general elevation of the ranges was about 1200 feet above the level of the sea, but some of the hills exceeded 1600.  Mount Lyell was 2000; Mount Gipps 1500; Lewis’s Hill 1000:  but the general elevation of the range