HEAVY RAINS. 
93 
right a small lake of fresh water ; and two miles 
beyond this another, about a mile in circumference, 
but deep, and evidently of a permanent character. 
Close to this fresh water lake was another, divided 
from it by only a narrow neck of land, and yet the 
latter was as salt as the sea. We had only made a 
short stage as yet ; but as there was a little food for 
the horses near the lake, I thought it more prudent 
to halt there than run the risk of being left without 
in the wretched looking country before us, 
The Mount Barren ranges were observed' again, 
but the weather was cloudy, so that I could make 
nothing out distinctly. In the afternoon, Wylie 
shot three teal, of which there were numbers on the 
lake. At night, our baggage and clothes had nearly 
all been destroyed by fire, a spark having been 
carried by the wind to the tarpaulin which covered 
them, and which, as it had been but newly tarred, 
was soon in a blaze. I was fortunate enough, how- 
ever, to observe the accident in time to save our 
other effects. 
June 25. — We commenced our journey early, 
but had not gone far before the rain began to fall, 
and continued until ten o’clock. Occasionally the 
showers came down in perfect torrents, rendering us 
very cold and miserable, and giving the whole 
country the appearance of a large puddle. We were 
literally walking in water ; and by stooping down, 
almost anywhere as we went along, could have dipped 
a pint pot half full. It was dreadful work to travel 
