10 KENT. [Dec. 10, 1855. 



The Lake appears to be remarkable for its low, sandy, and reedy 

 shores, except only at its southern extremity, where it runs along the 

 base of a steep range of hills. Its waves run very high, and an entirely 

 calm day is rare. Its water is sweet and good, and abounds with fish ; 

 there are very few islands visible anywhere from the coast, and the 

 abovementioned Arab, who twice crossed it, saw none. A large part of 

 its shores teems with a population " like an ant-hill." Its northern ex- 

 tremity is unknown, but it may be at the foot of a range of mountains 

 which stretch westward to the north of Burgenei. The river of the 

 Wadusi, on the northern part of its east coast, is an enormous river, but 

 very sluggish ; the other principal tributaries which have been heard 

 of, are laid down on the accompanying map. 



Third Meeting, December 10, 1855. 



Rear- Admiral F. W. BEECHEY, President, in the Chair. 



John Alger, A. Cumming, A. Gillespie, D. McGregor , and 

 C. White, Esqrs., were elected Fellows. 



The President stated that the Secretary had received a communica- 

 tion from Mr. Haidinger, of Vienna, announcing the proposed formation 

 of a Geographical Society in Austria. 



The Papers read were — 



1. Extracts from a Letter from John Kent, Esq., f.r.g.s., to Dr. 

 Shaw, dated Sydney, Aug. 12, 1855, giving information respecting 

 the North Australian Expedition. 



" I left Moreton Bay on the 4th inst., at which time the expedition was lying 

 at the bar of the river, waiting for the tide to proceed to sea. It consisted 

 of Mr. A. C. Gregory and his brother, Messrs. Baines and Wilson, Mr. Elsey, 

 the surgeon, Dr. Miiller, Mr. Flood, and 14 men, with 50 horses and 200 

 sheep, embarked on board the ' Monarch ' barque and schooner ' Tom Tough.' 

 Mr. G-. Windsor Earl is also a passenger on board the former vessel, and his 

 experience in tropical Australia will be of great value to the expedition. The 

 * Monarch,' after landing the horses and stores, proceeds to Singapore, from 

 whence you will next hear of its movements. The ' Tom Tough ' is engaged 

 to wait in attendance on the expedition so long as Mr. Gregory shall require 

 her to do so. Provisions and stores for two years have been provided, and all 

 Mr. Gregory has demanded supplied. The men have been engaged at 8s. per 

 diem. 



" There has been, in my opinion, one grave departure from the original plan, 

 namely, the omission of bullocks and bullock drays, which I hold to be essen- 

 tially necessary ; but Mr. Gregory acts from his experience in West Australia, 

 setting at nought the practice of Sturt, Mitchell, Leichhardt, and former ex- 

 plorers. Apart from this determination, which I hold to be an error, I deem 

 ^im a most competent leader for such an expedition. Sparc and active in 



