150 REPORT— 1877. 



the river in a caiioe, and being struck with its adaptability to steam navigation, Lad 

 purchased a small steamer for the purpose of regular trade communication. The 

 Brazilian Government cooperated by lending a steam-launch which was to precede 

 the steamer, survey the navigable channels of the river, and form depots of firewood 

 at regular intervals for the use of the vessel that was to follow. Mr. Simson's ad- 

 venturous voyage was completely successful. He ascended the river to a point 

 1200 miles from its mouth, and found it free from serious obstacles. Its course, 

 however, is extremely tortuous, and the lower parts subject to malarious fever. 

 Throughout the whole distance it flows through an alluvial region clothed with 

 dense forest, at present entirely unexplored. The Putumayo joins the Amazons at 

 a point distant 1700 miles from the ocean ; and as lines of large steamers have been 

 for many years established on the main stream, the establishment of steam-navigation 

 on the Putumayo will now enable any one desirous of making the voyage to ascend 

 from the Atlantic by steam to the foot of the Andes of New Granada. 



An Account of the Latest Expedition across Central Australia. 

 By W. H. Tietkens. 



In this paper the author gives a detailed account of an exploring expedition 

 fitted out by the Hon. Thomas Elder, of South Australia, and headed by Mr. 

 Ernest Giles, Mr. Tietkens being second in command, the object of which was to 

 cross the continent from the settlements of South Australia to those of Western 

 Australia. This object it carried out after seven months of laborious march. The 

 success of the expedition was rendered possible only by the use of camels instead 

 of horses, the scarcity of water, that bane of Australian explorers, and the extreme 

 hardships of a march through dense scrub being more than the horse can endure. 



The expedition, consisting of the above-named officers, including Mr. Young, 

 four men, and eighteen camels with their drivers, started in July 1875 from Youldeh 

 (S. lat. 3-4° 10' and E. long. 131° 46'), and after camping at "Ooldabinna (S. lat. 

 30° 7' 4" and E. long. 131° 15' 4"), and at a native dam a few days journey to the 

 westward of that place, marched for sixteen days, a distance of 323 miles, without 

 finding any water. At this perilous moment, when retreat was impossible and 

 advance almost certain destruction, even the camels being much distressed, Mr. 

 Tietkens most fortunately discovered a spring which was named by Mr. Giles the 

 Victoria Spring ; its position is in S. lat. 30° 25' 30", E. long. 123° 31' 13". About 

 ninety miles to the east of this valuable spring the expedition had traversed a tract 

 of land which Mr. Tietkens considers the only district on the whole fine of ex- 

 ploration which would be fitted for settlement. An undulating limestone country, 

 well grassed, with occasional clumps of Myall {Acacia pendula), and within easy 

 distance of the seaboard, renders it especially adapted to the staple industry of the 

 country, that of wool-growing. The experience of this latest expedition confirms 

 that of previous explorers with regard to the arid and waterless aspect of the 

 interior of Australia and its absolute unfitness for permanent settlement. The 

 discovery of this fertile, though apparently waterless, district must therefore be 

 regarded as a great gain. 



After a march of eight days through the ever-present scrub, [from the Victoria 

 Spring, the expedition came upon a native well called Ularring (S. lat. 29° 25', 

 E. long. 120° 31' 4"), and were here attacked by a large party of natives, narrowly 

 escaping, by prompt action only, the loss of several men, including Mr. Giles. The 

 possession by some of these natives of articles used in civilized life showed the 

 expedition that they were at last nearing the settlements. The soil in the vicinity 

 of Ularring being excellent they planted several seeds of Giant Bamboo, Tasmanian 

 Blue Gum, and various acacias. These were presented by Baron Ferd. von 

 Mueller, a distinguished explorer and botanist. 



After a rest of four days at the well, the explorers again plunged into the dis- 

 tressing scrub, which continued without intermission (a distance of 153 miles) 

 until they reached Mount Churchman ; this being a point on the borders of civiliza- 



