298 REMARKS ON NATIVE RITES. 



narrow space, and as I conjecture, lowness of Ine 

 country between the Gulf of Carpentaria and Lake 

 Torrens fully bears out,) the habits of what is now 

 the northern side of the continent found their way 

 to the southern. It is true I have in another 

 place conjectured, that in cases where similar habits 

 are found to prevail at widely distant points, they 

 may be looked upon as relics of a former universal 

 state of things, now preserved only in particular 

 localities; yet without invalidating this general rule, 

 I think that the facts of the mode of burial I have 

 described, and likewise the rite of circumcision, 

 existing in the bottom of the Gulf of Carpentaria, 

 and on the south side of the continent, strongly sup- 

 port the opinion that there once existed water com- 

 munication between them. 



However this may be, the discovery we had made 

 highly interested the w^hole party, and suggested 

 the name of Burial Reach for that part of the river. 

 Knowing, or at least feeling, that we were narrowly 

 watched by those into whose territories we had 

 penetrated, I did not venture far inland. In the few 

 miles traversed there was little of interest, except that 

 we felt the pleasure which almost surpasses that 

 created by beauty of scenery, of traversing a country 

 totally new to the European. It is astonishing how 

 charming mere plains covered with clumps of trees 

 appear under such circumstances. But this feeling 

 can be enjoyed but once ; for it is the explorer alone 

 who can either experience or deserve it. 



This part of the country, though to all appear- 



