March 22, 1858.] RECENT AUSTRALIAN EXPLORATIONS. 
189 
these two wings were connected, and that the general shape of the 
lake resembled a horseshoe, and therefore Mr. Goyder’s offer was 
not accepted. This completes the information that has reached us 
about this region. Its triangulation was expected to have been 
completed by the end of the season as far as Weathered Hill. 
As regards the districts to the west of Lake Torrens, larger tracts 
have been explored. In May, 1857, an expedition was sent out 
under Mr. Hack * to explore the north-western interior of the pro- 
vince, starting on a northerly course from Streaky Bay. The stores 
were conveyed by ship, and the horses landed at Port Lincoln, 
whence there is a line of numerous watering-places — one in about 
every ten miles — to Streaky Bay. Major Warburton was occupied 
at the same time in making an independent exploration. His routes 
are laid down upon the diagram, and are taken from the maps 
accompanying Mr. Hack’s report, but no narrative of his expedition 
has yet been received by our Society. During their absence a 
third party, consisting of Messrs. Thompson, Campbell, and Swin- 
den, made a rapid tour of about 200 miles to the westward of Lake 
Torrens, and starting from Saltia. Their route does not, however, 
admit of being laid down with any accuracy ; but it is evident that 
the land they traversed was very far from being a desert, and that 
they discovered an isthmus of a quarter of a mile in breadth be- 
tween the southern extremity of Lake Torrens and the head of 
Spencer’s Gulf. | 
To recur to Mr. Hack’s exploration. After leaving Streaky Bay 
he encamped at Parla, on the top of a low range commanding an 
extensive view of the Gawler range, where the expedition is 
delayed by the illness of one of his most useful servants. He 
occupies the vacant time by starting with one pack-horse on a 
reconnaissance, steering for a gap in the range distinctly visible 
from Parla. On nearing it, he passed through twelve miles of dense 
scrub, then through a chain of salt lakes difficult to pass, and which 
was seen from Mount Centre extending to the north-west as far as 
the eye could reach, while to the north there was a mass of high 
ranges, one behind another, till they faded away in the distance. 
On the return journey to Parla, Major Warburton’s fresh tracks 
were crossed ; good, permanent limestone wells were found, and 
the country observed to consist of a considerable extent of fine 
grassy land running into bold bald downs, intersected with belts 
and patches of mallee scrub of various extent. 
* South Australia, No. 156. Explorations by Mr. S. Hack. Ordered by the 
House of Assembly to be printed Oct. 13th, 1857. 
t Sir George Grey, when Governor, traversed and made a plan of this isthmus. 
—Ed. 
