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WATER BECOMES SALT. 
compelled to arrive. Accordingly, on the morning 
of the 29th, I took with me my overseer, one man, 
a native boy, and a cart drawn by three horses to 
carry water ; and making an early start, proceeded 
to attempt for the last time to penetrate into those 
regions of gloom. 
After travelling ten miles, we arrived at the 
Frome, where we watered and fed the horses. From 
this place I sent the overseer on before us, to see how 
far the w a l er extended, that we might determine 
where to fix our halting-place for the night. After 
resting awhile we proceeded on with the cart, tracing 
down the watercourse over a very rough and stony 
road on which the cart was upset, but without any 
serious damage, and passing several very large and 
fine water-holes with many teal and wood-duck upon 
them. 
At eight miles from where we lunched, we en- 
camped with abundance of water, but very little 
grass. The latitude by meridian altitude of Altair 
was 30° J 8' 30" S. In the evening the overseer re- 
turned, and stated there was water for nine miles 
further, but that the road was very rocky and bad. 
August 30. — Leaving the overseer to bring on 
the cart, I rode on a- head down the watercourse to 
trace the continuance of the water. The road I 
found to be very bad, and at twenty -three miles, 
upon tasting the water I found it as salt as the sea, 
and the bed of the creek quite impracticable for a 
cart ; I therefore hurried back for seven miles, and 
