A COOLGARPIE PIONEER. 165 



there is a big salt lake which must be three hundred 

 miles round. These salt lakes are numerous. Then 

 there are masses of soUd granite which rise out of 

 the earth to a height of about 100ft. At the top of 

 these is a hollow basin some 3ft. to 4ft. deep, and 

 filled with water. I have often had a good bathe 

 in them. There are curious-looking holes also in 

 these rocks. The opening is about big enough to admit 

 a small billy- can, but inside they are scooped out 

 like a big oil-jar, and full of water. I have often 

 got water from them by following up the trail made 

 by rats, mice, and other small animals that go there 

 to drink. The constant running in one direction 

 makes a faint track to their holes. Their tracks can 

 only be seen by an experienced hand. The blacks 

 know them well, and can find these holes easily. It 

 is an extraordinary country. It will, I think, in time, 

 1)6 a great country. As a goldfield I feel certain it 

 will beat all ever found. In time I am almost sure it 

 will be one vast goldfield from Coolgardie to the 

 Murchison.^' 



'^ There are a lot of men on the field now,^^ I said. 



" Thousands. But the majority are of the wrong 

 sort. You meet the same class of men on all gold- 

 fields. They are men Avho have no experience, but 

 follow on the track of a man who has. For instance, 

 when a well-known man goes out prospecting these 

 fellows dog round him. They camp where he camps. 



