204 



out taste or flavour of any kind, much resembling distilled water. 

 I might also say here that water is also to be obtained from the roots of 

 the casuarinas, but the roots have to be broken in short pieces about 

 three or four inches in length. 



At the northern part of this district the limestone seems to run 

 out, and a sandstone formation takes its place. Just at the end of 

 the limestone country there is a vast chain of yellow sand hills 

 covered with scrub of great variety and many beautiful \vild flowers, 

 also pine trees, but these do not grow high ; then comes a dense 

 spinifex country that I did not go through, the camels refusing to 

 go more than a few yards into it. In all probability good water 

 soaks will be found in the sandhills, as native tracks were very 

 plentiful, also dingo, kangaroo, emu, parrots and various other kinds 

 of birds were in great numbers. 



At the north-west portion we came to a small forest of what 

 appeared to be red gums, none of the trees very great in girth, and 

 about 30 to 40 feet in height, and here we also saw several good 

 well developed water courses, and also some quartz gravel and reefs. 

 A great deal of this district is good wheat producing land, and could 

 be put under the plough at a very small cost. When I lett this 

 district I made for Queen Victoria Spring, as the water supply was 

 almost done in our casks. When we got to the spring it was quite 

 dry, but we found a soak about eight or ten miles south by follow- 

 ing up the native tracks, and here we got our casks rilled up. 



In conclusion, I may say it would be useless for any person to go 

 over this country looking for gold, as, with the exception of the 

 north-west corner that I have already mentioned, all the rest is part 

 of a great limestone formation, that also extends for about 200 miles 

 east of the Western Australian border, and is known as Xullabar 

 plains. If water could be obtained in the fourth division, I am cer- 

 tain, as a wheat and barley growing district, it could not be sur- 

 passed. I also consider it an ideal place for horse breeding, as 

 there is an abundance of good pasture, and, with the limestone for- 

 mation, could not be surpassed for producing bone and substance. 

 The climate is magnificent in winter, frosty nights ; in summer, 

 heat, but dry, and never oppressive. 



It may take time to open up this country, but I am certain, sooner 

 or later, it will be one of the best districts in the colony for wheat 

 growing. 



I may just say here that I think there must be some large inland 

 lakes to the north of it somewhere, as at night clucks and swans used 

 often to fly overhead in a northernly direction. On several moonlight 

 nights I have shot both ducksandswansasthey have been passing over. 



I may also say that on several occasions we eame across a number 

 of white kangaroos; the only place in Australia I have seen them. 



The timber called sandahvood throughout this report, is not the 

 sandalwpod of commerce, but what is known as sandalwood in the 

 Eucla district. 



