EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 35 



guided, of course, by the distance this lake extends to the west- 

 ward, but I do not think it goes much further in that direction, 

 whatever it may do to the southward. I have now soon to decide 

 whether it be advisable to continue westward, or u> follow round 

 the lake, and so determine its outline to the southward. I see no 

 feature of interest to induce me to continue west unless prepared for 

 one hundred miles or more of oak forest, spinifex, and sandhills, for 

 I feel sure that no alteration will take place until the watershed 

 of the River Murchison is reached. As a geographer, I would 

 much like to continue on until the west coast is reached, and so 

 decide beyond all doubt, and for ever, the nature of the country, 

 but my instructions direct me to endeavor to discover minerals 

 and pastoral areas, and as neither may be hoped for in the west, it 

 is most probable that I shall complete the circuit of this lake and 

 then travel eastwards towards Lake Amadeus. Bar. 28 - 560in., 

 ther. 77° at 3 p.m. 



Monday, June 3rd.— Camp No. 38 ; S. latitude 23° 23' 1 3". Bar. 

 28 - 515in., ther. 40° at sunrise. — Very heavy dew, morning fine, 

 bright, and clear. Started at 8"35, N. 40° \V. for two miles, then 

 turned N. 60° W., skirting some samphire swamps which is much 

 better travelling for the camels. In one mile upon this bearing the 

 spinifex sandhills that have hitherto run down to the edge of the 

 lake gave way, and extensive saltbush flats appeared, upon these 

 were numerous clay pans near which the ground was soft and boggy 

 from the recent rains, the grass and herbage was green and most 

 luxuriant; these flats were lightly timbered with mulga and prickly 

 acacia. Continued on this bearing for five miles when spinifex 

 sandhills with oaks again set in. Not seeing anything of the lake 

 I turned S. 15° W., and in three miles met with samphire swamps, 

 continued among these for two miles when further progress was 

 entirely stopped, for we were in a labyrinth of salt swamps in which 

 the camels were several times bogged, and I was compelled to return 

 for three miles upon my tracks ; then being a little clear of the 

 swamps I turned S. 80° W., this course took me over open spinifex 

 country with oaks, and in four miles camped in a clump of oak 

 timber ; travelled fourteen miles, having lost much time among 

 the samphire swamps. Bar. 28 , 505in., ther. 68° at 5 p.m. 



Tuesday, June 4th.— Camp No. 39, S. lat. 23° 26' 47", E. long. 

 128' 12". Bar. 28-480in., ther. 56°.— Started at 1-20 upon a 

 oearing of S. 40° W., but I had only gone over one sandhill when 

 I observed that further progress in that direction was stopped by 

 a labyrinth of salt lagoons. Upon the higher ground, which might 

 be termed the islands, I noticed the vigorous growth of casuarina 

 or oak timber. Some little time was lost in endeavoring to cross 

 a salt arm, only a few yards across, and which seemed firm under 

 foot, but the moment the first two camels of the caravan were on 

 it. down they went in the blue mud underneath. After a long- 

 struggle they were got out, and I stood. away on a bearing of 



