176 
MR. SCOTT SAILS FOR ADELAIDE. 
to the settlement, and about ten, p.m., he, and the 
man who was to manage the boat, went on board 
to sail for Adelaide. I had been taken very ill 
during the day, and was unable to accompany him 
to the place of embarkation. The following is a 
copy of my despatch to the Governor, and to the 
Chairman of the Northern Expedition Committee, 
embodying my reasons for going to the westward. 
“ Port Lincoln , October , 1840. 
“ Sir,— Having fallen back upon Port Lincoln for supplies, an 
opportunity has occurred to me of writing a brief and hurried 
report of our proceedings. I have, therefore, the honour to 
acquaint you, for the information of His Excellency, the Gover- 
nor, and the colonists interested in the Northern Expedition, 
with the result of my examination of the country north of Spen- 
cer’s Gulf, and of the further steps I contemplate taking to en- 
deavour to carry out the wishes of the Committee, and accom- 
plish the object for which the expedition was fitted out. 
“ Upon leaving our depot, near Mount Arden, the low, arid, and 
sandy nature of the country between the hills and Lake Torrens, 
compelled us to follow close under the continuation of Flinders 
range. Here our progress was necessarily very slow, from the 
rugged nature of the country, the scarcity of water, and the 
great difficulty both of finding and obtaining access to it. As 
we advanced, the hills inclined considerably to the eastward, 
gradually becoming less elevated, until, in latitude 29° 20' S., 
they ceased altogether, and we found ourselves in a very low and 
level country, consisting of large stony plains, varied occasionally 
by sand ; and the whole having evidently been subject to recent 
and extensive inundation. These plains are destitute of water, 
grass, and timber, and have only a few salsolaceous plants 
growing upon them ; whilst their surface, whether stony or 
sandy, is quite smooth and even, as if washed so by the action of 
