26 
GOYDER’S REPORT ON THE COUNTRY [Nov. 9, 1857. 
flood, flow uninterruptedly elsewhere : and I am inclined to believe, 
in a generally north-west direction. 
In using the words unmistakeably fresh with reference to this 
water, I meant to imply that not only did it appear fresh to the 
taste, hut that also there was no indication whatever of the presence 
of salt ; and I only regretted the absence of the means which would 
have enabled me to test not only its extent and direction, hut also 
its depths and action. 
We afterwards proceeded due west for 20 miles, to obtain a view 
from the summit of the high land running from the north-west to 
Weathered Hill — crossing, on our way, two creeks at 10 and 13 
miles distance. The first we named Duck Pond Creek, from the 
existence of two large waters in its bed, one of which was half a 
mile long, was wide, deep, and fringed with trees similar to the 
Blanche, with quantities of ducks swimming about. The second we 
called Mirage Creek, from its forming the boundary of an imaginary 
lake, which we supposed we were approaching, but which disappeared 
as we neared the elevated land. It would be perfectly useless to 
repeat the number of times we were deceived by milage, and sur- 
prised by the enormous refraction peculiar to these plains ; some 
idea of it may be obtained from the fact that the large gums, seen 
from Weathered Hill to the north, proved to be bushes of from 2 
to 4 feet high; and a large hill seen from the summit of Mount 
Serle, by aid of a powerful glass, and which we estimated at about 
3000 feet, dwindled down to 60. In fact, horizontal angles are 
of little value, and the mere appearance of water no test of its 
existence ; but this deception is only possible when away from 
water, the difference being so great when in its actual presence as to 
render deception next to impossible. 
OnPeaching the top of the hills we found them to be composed of 
table lands and sand hummocks, succeeded by ranges of a better 
character, forming well grassed basins and valleys ; a few of which 
contained lagoons of fresh water, gathered from the late rains, 
from which the waters were rapidly evaporating. 
Having now ascertained all that was necessary to enable me to 
give instructions relative to the extent of the survey, we retraced 
our steps by way of St. Mary Pool and Mount Freeling (the 
highest of three hills on a range running north-west to the plains, 
the most northern of which we supposed to be Mr. Eyre’s Mount 
Distance — and named accordingly, the intermediate hill having been 
previously named Mount Gardner), taking bearings from the 
various hills named on our route, so as to enable the surveyors to 
follow and complete the triangulation, which, with favourable 
