y highly, and struck north, looking for a pass through the
range. It proved to be very rough and precipitous, and when at last they
reached the sea, they found themselves in an angle, wedged in between the
sea and the range, romantic and picturesque, according to Forrest's
description, but quite impassible. Here, too, the natives approached them
in threatening numbers, but through the exercise of tact, peace was
preserved. On the 22nd of June they attacked one tier of the range, and
after a steep climb, which caused the death of one horse, they reached
the height of 800 feet and camped. Finding it so hard upon the horses,
Forrest left them to rest, and went on foot to discover a road. But he
came upon endless rugged zigzags, which so involved and baffled him that
he gave it up in despair, and returned. He had now, most reluctantly, to
abandon the idea of surmounting the range, and to make for the Fitzroy
once more. Following up the Margaret, a tributary of the Fitzroy, he
managed to work round the southern end of the range, which still frowned
defiance at him, and at last reached the summit, the crest of a
tableland, whence he saw before him good grassy hills and plains. Of this
country, which he called Nicholson Plains, Forrest speaks most
enthusiastically, and doubtless, after the late struggle with the range,
it must have appeared a perfect picture of enchantment.

On the 24th they reached a fine river, which was then running strong.
They named it the Ord, and followed its course for a time. Thence he
continued his way to the line, and on the 18th of August came to the
Victoria River. From the Victoria, Forrest had a hard struggle to reach
the telegraph line. The rations being nearly exhausted, and one man being
very ill, the leader started for Daly Waters station, taking one man with
him. After much suffering and privation they at last reached the line,
and obtained water at some tanks kept for the use of the line repairers.
The absence of a map of the line led Forrest to follow it north, away
from Daly Waters, and it was four days before they overtook a repairing
party and obtained food.

Alexander Forrest was afterwards for many years a member of the
Legislative Council of West Australia, was for six years Mayor of Perth
and a C.M.G. He died on the 20th June, 1901. A bronze statue was
erected to his memory in Perth, Western Australia, by his friends.

CHAPTER 20. LATER EXPLORATION IN THE WEST.

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