Report of Exploration Committee. xvii 



slow development of Australian geography, which must result froni a 

 steady adherence to the system of keeping our explorations 400 or 

 500 miles a-head of the settlements and gradually reducing the 

 limits of the Australian terra incognita, or else to resort to the very 

 doubtful, but, if successful, more brilliant mode of making energetic 

 endeavours to accomplish the result without delay. Prudence would 

 teach us to pause where undue haste may be disastrous. 



Now, as regards the route of any party which might start, under 

 present circumstances, from the east coast, they must of necessity be 

 prepared to return to it, as it is only for a few weeks in each rainy 

 season that they could approach the colony of Western Australia, as 

 it is bounded on the east by a waterless scrub, which has been pene- 

 trated at several points some 200 miles ; and this tract of country, 

 which perhaps extends as much further into the interior, can only be 

 traversed in the wet seasons, when a little water collects on the bare 

 rocks which exist at wide intervals, there being no water-courses, and 

 the lower parts of the valleys occupied by salt marshes and lakes of 

 brine. Even in following the coast to Shark's Bay I was nearly four 

 days without water while crossing the scrubby plains north of the 

 settlement, and only found one well of water during a search of 

 thirteen days' duration. 



Moreton Bay thus becomes the most eligible point for the organi- 

 sation of an exploring party, and by following down partially the 

 Victoria Kiver of Sir T. Mitchell, a good position for a depot could 

 be selected, from which a rightly equipped party could push to 

 the westward by taking a sweep to the north of Sturt's furthest 

 point. 



I expect shortly to visit the country to the N.W. of Moreton Bay, 

 with a view of searching for traces of Dr. Leichhardt and his party, 

 and, if possible, to ascertain the fate of that unfortunate explorer : 

 and should any important features of the country be discovered, a 

 knowledge of which might be of use to an exploring party, I shall 

 feel pleasure in communicating all information relative thereto, as I 

 apprehend that if the expedition is undertaken it could not start be- 

 fore the period of my retiu-n, as the preliminary arrangements and 

 organisation of the party would occupy several months. 



An opinion is prevalent that the range of hills which gives Eastern 

 Australia the singular character of large streams descending into a 

 depressed interior, will be found to extend along the north and west 

 coasts. This is not the case, as the mountain range terminates at 

 Cape York, and except the small track of hills in South Australia, 

 no ranges exist to the west of the 142nd meridian, the whole of the 

 western portion of the continent being only a sandy table-land, the 

 edges of which are serrated by small watercourses which descend its 

 slope to the coast. Thus in forming an estimate of the difficulties to 

 be encountered in that portion of Australia, we must not adopt any 

 experience of the country within the occupied portion of it. Were 



