95 



area, viz., undulating stratification of the metaniorphic l)ed-rookK,. 

 will render this country very promising for obtaining water by 

 sinking wells down to the bed-rocks. A well near Simon's Hill, 

 where this was done, proves that this method of obtaining water 

 would be crowned with success in other places. 



Concerning the waste track north of Queen Victoi'ia Spring, 

 although the conditions for subterranean, even artesian, water 

 are favourable, on account of its geological and stratigraphical 

 configuration, the (juestion arises cui bono 1 should that task, 

 although promising, be undertaken ? 



The greatest part of this sandy desert will remain for ever 

 what it is now, an inhospitable, dismal stretch of country. 



CHAPTER IV 



'From the Fraser Range to the Yilgarn ami Murchison Goldjlelch. 



physio(;raphical fkatubes. 



This ' large area may be treated as one, on account of its 

 geographical uniformity. It comprises an immense high plateau, 

 which extends towards the west, far into the settled districts of 

 Western Australia, terminating there in a steep escarpment, of 

 which the Darling Range forms the most prominent feature. 

 From a geological point of view this same stretch of countrj' is 

 sub-divided into several formations, of which the granitic and the 

 flanking schistose are the most developed. 



The height of this vast granitic tableland may be averaged, 

 according to the barometrical measurements, at from 1,300 to 

 1,400 feet. The lower levels of this area are covered with im- 

 mense saline sheets, which are generally surrounded by large 

 alluvial flats and jDlains covered liy nodular ironstone. 



The plains are interrupted by bold eruptive granite-masses in 

 low sandstone-capped ridges. 



Rivers or creeks were not met with, and the big salt lakes (as 

 Lefroy, Seabrock, Moore, Austin), appear to have no outlets, 

 which fact accounts for the thick crust of salt with which they 

 are covered. 



The mountains and hills in this portion of the country cannot 

 be said to boast of any great height or extension, as with the 

 exception of the moderate outcrops of the elevated granite table- 

 land which represent the main formation of the south and south- 

 western part of West Australia ; there are, as already mentioned, 

 only low ridges of schistose rocks in the northern portion, which 

 are often found in connection with flat-topped sandstone ranges. 



The land surface of the country travelled over may in brief be 



