88 DESCRIPTION OF SOME CAVES NEAR CAMOOWEAL. 



thrown down a large ball of cotton soaked in kerosene, to test 

 the atmosphere and to light us on our way. On reaching the 

 second floor, we found several caves which we explored till our 

 progress was again stopped by a second hole. After dropping 

 fire-balls into this, we made fast another rope and decended, 

 reaching a third floor, or rather platform, of considerable size. 

 Looking over the edge of this platform, we could discern below 

 at the distance of about 40 feet a considerable body of water. 

 Determining to examine this, I had a rope fastened round my 

 waist and was let down by the others — I found the water 

 beautifully clear, cool, and pure ; but had no means of testing 

 its depth, or its exact temperature. Further progress being 

 impossible we retraced our steps, and having reached the surface 

 and the light of day, we found, by measurement of our ropes, 

 that the surface of this subterranean lake is about 300 feet below 

 the level of the plain. We also estimated that the distance 

 which we had penetrated horizontally into the bowels of the 

 earth could not have been far short of a quarter of a mile. The 

 floors of the caves were free from rubbish of any kind, and the 

 atmosphere was tolerably pure throughout. 



In connection with this subject, it is, I think, worthy of 

 note that the Rocklands' Pastoral Company have put down 

 several bores in the neighbourhood of Camooweal which have 

 struck Avater — an inexhaustible supply of sub-artesian water — 

 at depths varying from 2.50 to 300 feet, proving conclusively (in 

 connection with the above) that below the surface of this arid 

 region there exists a vast reservoir of pure, fresh water of many 

 square miles in extent, and at a nearly uniform depth below the 

 surface. 



