66 
DEPOT POOL. 
in size, as we occasionally passed the junctions of 
small branches from the various gorges ; the gum- 
trees on its course were either dead or dying ; the 
hills, which at a distance had appeared very rugged 
and lofty, upon a nearer approach turned out to be 
mere detached eminences of moderate elevation, 
covered with loose stones, but without the least 
sign of water. 
About two o’clock, p.m. we passed a little grass, 
and as the day appeared likely to become rainy, I 
halted for the night. Leaving the native boy to 
hobble the horses, I took my gun and ascended one 
of the hills near me for a view. Lake Torrens was 
visible to the west, and Mount Deception to the N.W. 
but higher hills near me, shut out the view in every 
other direction. In descending, I followed a little 
rocky gully leading to the main watercourse, and 
to my surprise and joy, discovered a small but deep 
pool of water in a hole of the rock : upon sounding 
the depth, I found it would last us some time, and that 
I might safely bring on my party thus far, until I 
could look for some other point for a depot still 
farther north; the little channel where the water 
was, I named Depot Pool. 
Regaining the camp, I immediately set to work 
with the native boy to construct a bough hut, as 
the weather looked very threatening. We had 
hardly completed it before the rain came down in 
torrents, and water was soon laying every where in 
