188 NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. [Nov. 10, 1856. 



desert, with low, barren sandstone hills, and long parallel ridges of 

 red drifting sand, straight, equal in height, and with a direction 

 exactly east and west. This desert country was not altogether 

 destitute of vegetation, but thinly covered with triodia (the spinifex 

 of Australian explorers), and a few scattered bushes of eucalyptus, 

 acacia, and hakea. 



After following this stream -bed, which I named Sturt's Creek, for 

 nearly 300 miles, its channel terminated in a series of dry salt 

 lakes, which occupied the lower portion of a large depression in the 

 desert, the centre being in lat. 20^ 16' S., long. 127° 36' E., and 900 

 feet above sea-level. 



No outlet for the waters of these lakes could be discovered, though 

 carefully sought for, and the great height at which the inundations 

 of the country had remained for considerable periods, was evident 

 from the abundance of mussel shells which remained in their 

 natural position, embedded in the soil 20 feet above the dry bed 

 of the lake, and more than a mile beyond its ordinary limits. 



Surrounded on all sides by a sandy desert, in which it was hope- 

 less to look for water or grass, and deprived of these essentials 

 which the creek had afforded in sufficient quantity to enable us to 

 proceed thus far into this inhospitable region, it was useless to 

 attempt to penetrate the country to the southward, and no alter- 

 native remained but to retrace our steps while it continued prac- 

 ticable; for as no regular rains had fallen in this part of the 

 country for at least twelve months, our supply had been generally 

 derived from small muddy puddles, which resulted from heavy 

 thunder showers which had fallen in the early part of the month. 

 Most of these water-holes had now dried up, and I am doubtful 

 whether our horses could have performed the long stages between 

 the remaining watering-places, had not the open character of the 

 country enabled us to travel at night, and thus avoid the scorching 

 rays of an intertropical sun. 



On the 11th March, we commenced retracing our steps up Sturt's 

 Creek, and on the 24th, having reached the head of the creek, struck 

 off to the N.E. to avoid the waterless country traversed on the out- 

 ward route. In lat. 17° 42', long. 129° 58', we crossed the dividing 

 ridge between the northern and southern waters, the elevation being 

 1660 feet above the sea, and, descending into a valley, came on a 

 small dry creek trending N.AV. This we followed for 30 miles, and 

 then steered E.N.E. for 50 miles, over level grassy country, destitute 

 of water, and reached the depot camp, in the valley of the Victoria, 

 on the 28th, found the party in good health and the horses much 

 improved in condition. 



