MaeCh 14, 1859.] EXPLORATIONS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 153 



country were blessed with periodical rain ; but it is doubtful whether 

 it is so or not. Then there is an abundant and sure supply of water 

 from the springs. The country generally is very deficient in 

 useful timber, but the reeds and mud would make good huts." 



The following extract of a despatch from Governor Sir K. G. Mac- 

 donnell to Sir E. B. Lytton shows in a prominent manner the 

 remarkable extent of the discoveries of Mr. Stuart : — 



" Unfortunately for Mr. Babbage it became more than ever evident 

 thgit exploration should precede the mapping of a country, when a 

 private explorer, Mr. John Macdougall Stuart, returned only in Sep- 

 tember from a very extensive and successful exploring expedition, 

 conducted entirely at the expense of private parties. Mr. Stuart, 

 who had been with Captain Sturt as draughtsman in his second 

 great expedition, and who was accompanied by only one white com- 

 panion and a black — with five horses, and a scanty supply of pro- 

 visions, but with a moral courage and hardihood of the highest 

 description — managed literally to describe an immense circle round 

 the contracted movements of Mr. Babbage and his party ; having 

 penetrated in a straight line nearly 240 miles to the north-west of* 

 Mr. Babbage's camp at the Elizabeth, and having traversed in 

 various routes nearly four degrees of longitude west, and three of 

 latitude north of that position. 



" These points will be more evident to you on examining a map 

 which I have caused to be compiled for your information, and which 

 not merely gives Mr. Stuart's track as in the chart attached to the 

 enclosed Council paper, but also shows the position of Mr. Babbage's 

 camp, together with the general aspect of the country in the vicinity 

 of Lake Gairdner, as laid down by Major Warburton, Mr. Babbage, 

 and others. You will thus see at a glance the great extent of Mr. 

 Stuart's discoveries, and the importance of their character, as it 

 seems probable that at least from 12,000 to 18,000 square miles of 

 country, available hereafter for pastoral purposes, have been opened 

 by Mr. Stuart's exertions ; and I am glad to say the House of 

 Assembly have presented an address to me, requesting me to take 

 the necessary steps for giving Mr. Stuart a fourteen years' lease of 

 1500 square miles of the new country, to be rent free for the first 

 seven years. 



" I would suggest that the labours and discoveries of Mr. Stuart 

 might with propriety be brought under notice of the Eoyal Geogra- 

 phical Society, on account of the extreme interest attaching to some 

 of them. I allude more especially to his discovery of the range 

 which I have called Stuart Eange, and which appears to have been 

 traced in a N.W. direction ; broken more or less here and there, but 



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