144 excursion across the darling. 
We rode through brushes of polygonum, under rough-gum, 
without a blade of vegetation, the whole space being sub- 
ject to inundation. We then got on small plains of firmer 
surface, and red soil, but these soon changed again for 
the former ; and at 4 p. m. we found ourselves advanced 
about two miles on a plain that stretched away before 
us, and bounded the horizon. It was dismally brown ; a 
few trees only served to mark the distance. Up one of 
the highest I sent Hopkinson, who reported that he could 
not see the end of it, and that all around looked blank 
and desolate. It is a singular fact, that during the whole 
day, we had not seen a drop of water or a blade of grass. 
To have stopped where we were, would, therefore, have 
been impossible ; to have advanced, would probably have 
been ruin. Had there been one favorable circumstance to 
have encouraged me with the hope of success, I would 
have proceeded. Had we picked up a stone as indicating 
our approach to high land, I would have gone on ; or had 
there been a break in the level of the country, or even a 
change^ in the vegetation. But we had left all traces of 
the natives far behind us ; and this seemed a desert they 
never entered — that not even a bird inhabited. I could 
not encourage a hope of success, and, therefore, gave up 
the point ; not from want of means, but a conviction of 
the inutility of any further efforts. If there is any blame 
to be attached to the measure, it is I who am in fault, but 
none who had not like me traversed the interior at such a 
season, would believe the state of the country over which 
