38 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 



side of the range and make a smoke signal on the most promnient 

 westerly point of the range, keeping a good lookout westward himself. 

 There is water at Mount Nor.'-West, though it may be on the western 

 edge of the range." 



Parliamentary Paper, 1858, No. 151. A communication from Mr. 

 Babbage to the ComraissioiTier of Crown Lands, acknowledging his 

 letter of 23rd September, informing him that the Government had 

 decided to instruct Major Warburton to supersede him in the command 

 of the expedition, and instructing him to make arrangements for his 

 return to Adelaide forthwith. Mr. Babbage writes from Port Augusta, 

 on the 21st November, 1858, reporting his proceedings on his journey 

 northward, and at page 9 there is the following passage : — " On pro- 

 ceeding down the Stuart we found near the junction from the south- 

 east, since named the " Margaret " by Major Warburton, a pool of 

 fresh water, and here I halted my party whilst I went out myself to 

 examine the country before us, having, however, previously traced 

 down the Stuart into a large salt lake, which I named Lake Gregory. 

 My first trip was made in company with Jones to the nearest hill of 

 the Hermit Range, situated about 20 miles west of my position. At 

 about 16 miles we found a gum creek, with salt water, but no iresh 

 water, although it might be probably met with higher up the creek. 

 On ascending the hill, which stands up out of a plain, excepting in the 

 western side, where high sandridges butted up against it, I could dis- 

 tinctly trace the shores of Lake Gregory, trending northwards ; but 

 to the west and north-west, where I expected to see Lake Torrens, 

 nothing but an extensive plain met my view — not a sign of a lake of 

 any kind being visible. Immediately to the north-north-west was 

 also an extensive plain of a somewhat higher level than the western 

 plain, presenting low bluffs at its sides. To the south-east were the 

 other isolated hills of the Hermit Range, and beyond them a distant 

 blue hill of the Flinders Range, very probably Eyre's Mount Nor.'-West. 

 To the south were several small, isolated salt lakes, and extensive 

 plains covered by low sandridges and scrub. According to the map 

 of the " Recent Explorations," the Hermit Hill should be about 30 

 miles west of Eyre's tracks ; but I found subsequently that a more 

 recent map, supplied to Major Warburton, gave the distance as only 

 15 miles. The height of Hermit Hill is about 363ft. above the ground 

 at its base, and probably considerably more above the western plain. 

 I feel, therefore, confident, from my view from this elevation, either 

 that Lake Torrens does not extend so far northward as this latitude, 

 viz., 29° 37', or that, if it does, it must be reduced to a mere inconsider- 

 able channel, and might be readily crossed. I pointed this out to 

 Major Warburton, explaining my reasons for my belief, and offered 

 to accompany him in an examination of it. As this proposal did not 

 appear to suit his plans, I requested him to let one of my late party 

 — Jones — accompany me, that I might examine the country in this 

 direction, and, if I found it practicable, return to Adelaide by Eyre's 

 tracks on the eastern side of the lake ; and that, if not, I might at any 

 rate have a companion in the long ride to Port Augusta, via the 



I 



