Forrest’s last expedition was rather a survey than a journey of discovery.  In 1883, in company with several other surveyors, he landed at Roebuck Bay, and examined a large portion of the Kimberley Division.  He proceeded from Roebuck Bay to the Fitzroy River, which his brother had lately explored, and examined the intermediate country as far as St. George’s Range, reporting that it consisted mainly of rich elevated grassy plains with abundance of water.  He also investigated Cambridge Gulf and the lowest part of the Ord River.

After quitting the field of exploration, John Forrest entered the wider arena of politics, in which his reputation was enhanced.  He held the office of Premier of Western Australia continuously for ten years, and he still fills a distinguished position among the public men of federated Australia.  He was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society in 1876, and is now a G.C.M.G. and a Privy Councillor.

19.3.  ALEXANDER FORREST.

[Illustration.  Alexander Forrest.]

Alexander Forrest was born in 1849, and died in 1901.  He accompanied his brother, as we have already noted, in two important expeditions, and in 1871 he took charge of a private expedition to the eastward in search of pastoral country.  Owing to a late start, he and his party were compelled to make for the coast when they had reached latitude 31 degrees south, longitude 123 degrees east.  This course led them to Mount Ragged, whence, proceeding westerly, they returned to Perth by way of Esperance, having penetrated inland six hundred miles and found a considerable area of good country.

In 1879, Alexander Forrest led an expedition from the De Grey River to the now customary goal, the overland telegraph line of South Australia.  He left the De Grey on the 25th of February, and reached Beagle Bay on the 10th of April, the country passed over being like most land in the immediate neighbourhood of the coast, poor and indifferent.

From Beagle Bay he followed the coast round to the Fitzroy, and proceeded up that river until he encountered a range, which was named the King Leopold Range.  Here the party left the Fitzroy, of which river Forrest speaks very 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