95 



127 miles. Its western boundary is the line of scarped cliffs 

 trending in a north-west direction from Wilson's Bluff ; on the 

 east by the edge of higher and undulating ground following an 

 irregular, but generally north-east line from the Head of the 

 Bight to a few miles west from Pidinga, lat. 30 deg. 10 min. 

 25 sees., long. 132 deg. 7 min. 1 sec, continuing thence, probably, 

 to Ooldea Water in lat. 30 deg. 20 min., long. 131 deg. 50 min. 

 31 sees. Its northern boundary is not known, but is probably 

 south of a line curving from Ooldea Water to Boundary Dam, 

 a few miles to the west of the meridian of Eucla, and in lat. 

 29 deg. 20 min. 



The same geological features prevail throughout this region, 

 but differ from those of the country bordering it. Its other 

 natural features differ in different parts, though a general 

 uniformity prevails throughout. 



I have adopted the name TZv/nda for the Plateau, that being 

 the native term for the sea-cliffs ; a portion of the Plateau is 

 known as the Xullarbor Plain. 



Previous Explorations. 



The Bunda Plateau is memorable in the annals of South 

 Australian geographical research, by the privations which one 

 of the bravest of her explorers, Edward John Eyre, suffered in 

 traversing it. It has since then been crossed in an east and 

 west direction and skirted by several travellers ; and now since 

 the erection of water-tanks at distances of about forty miles, 

 rendered necessary by the work of maintaining the telegraph 

 line in good order, a journey from the Head of the Bight to 

 Eucla presents no difficulty. 



Elindees. — The seaboard of the Bunda Plateau was surveyed 

 from the sea by Elinders in 1S02, and the appearauce of its cliffs 

 depicted by drawings and words, he stating that their elevation 

 appeared to be from 400 to 600 feet. 



Eyre.- — In 1840 he undertook to explore the unknown country 

 lying between this colony and West Australia. Streaky Bay was 

 made the base of operations, and his attempt to round the Head 

 of the Great Australian Bight was a fruitless one. On a second 

 attempt he was driven back upon Eowler's Ba} r , after penetrat- 

 ing to within twelve miles of the Head of the Bight. Erom 

 that place he started, January 2, JS-11, on a third attempt, and 

 succeeded in reaching the last of the sandhills, which intervene 

 between the Head of the Bight and the commencement of the 

 cliffs, called Bunda by the natives, from whence he penetrated 

 forty-five miles along the cliffs, and then returned to Eowler's 

 Bay. Nothing daunted, he essayed a fourth time, having 

 previously reduced the streugth of his party to his overseer 

 Baxter and three blacks. Starting from Eowler's Bay, February 



