96 
BARREN COUNTRY. 
with steep precipitous sides which were red, with the 
ironstone above, and white, with a substance like 
chalk, below. The country was covered with salsolae, 
and we passed the beds of many dried up salt lakes. 
Ascending the highest ridge near us, I found Lake 
Torrens was no longer visible, being shut out by the 
sandy ridges to the westward, whilst the low iron- 
stone hills impeded our view to the north, and to 
the east. Having given our horses water, we buried 
twelve gallons against our return, and sending back 
the man with the cart, and extra horses, the native 
boy and I still pushed on to the N. W., taking a 
pack-horse to carry our provisions and a few quarts 
of water for ourselves. 
As we proceeded, the country changed to exten- 
sive plains and undulations of stones and gravel, 
washed perfectly level by water, and with the 
stones as even in size and as regularly laid as if 
they had been picked out and laid by a paviour. At 
intervals were interspersed many of the fragments 
of table land I have alluded to before, only perhaps 
a little less elevated than they had previously been ; 
we passed also the beds of several small dry water- 
courses, and encamped upon one of the largest, long 
after dark, having travelled twenty-five miles since 
we left the cart, and having made in the whole a 
day’s journey of thirty-seven miles. There was 
tolerable food in the bed of the watercourse, but 
the horses were thirsty and eat but little. Unfortu- 
nately, in crossing the stony ground, one of them cast 
a shoe, and began to go a little lame. 
