Explorations of Australia. 167 



inland of the Carpentaria streams than Mr. Gregory has proved 

 it to exist, and that he thus, with his whole party and animals, 

 met a dreadful fate in the waterless wastes of the north-east 

 interior. 



The examination of the country north-west of Lake Torrens, 

 we should leave to its own colonists after the noble manifes- 

 tations in South Australia for enterprises of this nature. To 

 the northward, however, of this colony, we may observe a large 

 extent of country situated between the Lachlan and the 

 Darling, and a greater still enclosed by the Darling, the War- 

 rego, the Barcoo and Grey and Barrier Ranges, an area, indeed, 

 equal in extent to that of the whole colony of Victoria, hitherto 

 almost totally unexplored. 



This country, although belonging politically to New South 

 Wales, will on account of its geographical position hereafter 

 supply its produce to the auriferous northern districts of our 

 own province, and claims, therefore, particularly since the Lower 

 Darling navigation has been accomplished, our full attention. 

 I am aware that what we know of the interior in that direction 

 seems discouraging to any future exertions, although, perhaps, 

 not more so than in any other line of exploration, which we 

 could adopt with equal facility. 



Nor must we forget, that neither Sturt nor Kennedy traversed 

 the outlines of this district at a favourable season, or in a 

 favourable year. Moreover, if we trust to aboriginal traditions 

 for a clue to Leichhardt's fate, we may have many chances of 

 success when enquiring for him in that direction. And should 

 the season favour the enterprise, features may be disclosed east- 

 ward of the stony desert which may serve hereafter as a key 

 for investigating fully the nature of Central Australia. 



It would, perhaps, not be needless to examine, previous 

 to an attempt to cross the Continent from east to west, 

 west, along its middle part, a distance of 2500 miles, the 

 country north of the Great Bight (perhaps from Fowler's Bay) 

 and east of Shark's Bay (perhaps from the Gascoigne). Without 

 these precautions the undertaking seems, if we value existing 

 testimony to be one not only of imminent risk, but also 

 possessing limited chances of success. 



The limit assigned to this paper does neither admit of enter- 

 ing into all the special merits nor into further details of former 

 discoveries. Much has been done for extending the field of geogra- 

 phy : more than one man has sunk in the struggle for such a noble 

 purpose. Whoever listens to the special accounts of those, to 

 whom Providence destined a safe return, will rejoice in their 



