SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 



Africa or America anywhere in these regions, he would exclaim the moment 

 he opened his eyes — ' 'Tis Australia.' A glance at the map would lead to 

 the conclusion that the colony is well supplied with lakes. On paper, Lake 

 Torrens, Lake Eyre, Lake Gardiner, Lake Amadeus, cover large areas, but 

 unfortunately an antipodean meaning must be attached to the term ; for the 

 most part these lakes are either muddy reed-covered swamps, or salt marshes 

 unfitted for navigation in winter, and evaporating into vast glittering clay pans 

 in summer. The level of several of these extensive depressions is believed to 



A Murray River Boat. 



be below that of the sea, and the cutting of a canal to unite them to Spencer's 

 Gulf, the deepest indentation on the southern coast, has been suggested, and 

 will probably some day be carried into effect, and then there may be changes 

 worked in the climate. 



At present, however, South Australia is decidedly hot during its summer 

 months of December, January and February. The thermometer runs up to 

 no and 112 and 116 degrees. ' But then,' says the typical South Australian, 

 taking you by the buttonhole, ' it is a dry heat, and really you do not feel 

 it ; there is no enervating aqueous vapour about ; ' and there certainly is not. 



