THE "OVERLANDERS." 237 



found to be almost hemmed in by- sterile districts ; 

 and the good lands, contrary to our experience of 

 the rest of the continent, to be nearly all in one 

 spot. A number of enterprising colonists, therefore, 

 concentrated within comparatively narrow limits, 

 could not fail of developing the resources of the 

 country, and of discovering what mineral treasures 

 it may contain. The good encouragement it has 

 lately received has, to a certain extent, assisted in 

 bringing it back to the position of one of the most 

 thriving colonies in Australia ; though we must 

 attribute much of its present prosperity to the im- 

 pulse originally given by the policy of Colonel 

 Gawler, which, though it may have caused a tempo- 

 rary financial embarrassment, is now making its 

 happy effects sensibly felt. 



The eastern extent of the country of South 

 Australia was determined by the Overlanders, as 

 they call the gentlemen who bring stock from 

 New South Wales. The first that came across 

 were Messrs. Bonny and Horden. An interesting 

 account of them will be found in Captain Grey's 

 work. Many of these pioneers of civilization endure 

 extraordinary hardships during their expeditions ; 

 as an example of which I may mention that Mr. 

 Bonny, in endeavouring to find a new route, was 

 compelled to kill a calf and drink its blood to save 

 his life. On this occasion water was found by the 

 cattle, turned loose for that purpose. Another 

 gentleman, who had lost his way in the bush, had 



