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COPY OF DESPATCH. 
former line of route along tlie coast to Streaky Bay, and rejoin- 
ing my party there on the 3rd November. 
<e The Waterwitch had already arrived with the stores sent for 
the use of the expedition, and I have since detained her to co- 
operate with my party, in accordance with the kind permission 
of his Excellency the Governor. 
“ From previous experience, I was aware, that after leaving 
Streaky Bay, we should have obstacles of no ordinary kind to 
contend with ; and as I advanced, I found the difficulties of the 
undertaking even greater than I had anticipated x the heavy 
sandy nature of the country, its arid character, the scarcity of 
grass, and the very dense brushes through which we had fre- 
quently to clear a road with our axes, formed impediments of no 
trifling description, and such as, when combined with the very 
unfavourable season of the year, we could hardly have overcome 
without the assistance of the Waterwitch. By putting on board 
the cutter the greater part of our dead weight, we relieved our 
jaded horses from loads they could no longer draw ; and by ob- 
taining from her occasional supplies of water at such points of 
the coast as we could procure none on shore, we were enabled 
to reach Fowler’s Bay on the 22nd November. 
“ From this point I could no longer avail myself of the va- 
luable services of the cutter, the wild unprotected character of 
the coast extending around the Great Australian Bight, render- 
ing it too dangerous for a vessel to attempt to approach so fear- 
ful a shore, and where there is no harbour or shelter of any kind 
to make for in case of need. 
“ Under these circumstances, I left my party in camp behind 
Point Fowler, whilst I proceeded myself, accompanied by a native 
boy, to examine the country a-head, and I now only detained the 
Waterwitch, in the hopes that by penetrating on horseback 
beyond the head of the Great Bight, I might be able to give his 
Excellency some idea of our future prospects. 
“For the last twenty-four days I have been engaged in at- 
tempting to round the head of the Bight ; but so difficult is the 
country, that I have not as yet been able to accomplish it. In 
