330 
Captain Sturt’s Expedition into the 
digging procure better water. Traversing the western shore of 
the lake, I ascended a high and abrupt dune of red sand to my 
left. From it I saw another similar lake to the eastward, backed 
by a very low country. Northward, there was also a low track of 
white sand, into which I did not think it prudent to venture ; 
whilst to the west and south-west the view was limited by high 
ridges or dunes of red sand. 
At this point we were in lat. 27° 8-' and long. 140° 10' 55'. 
My progress to the north appeared to be so doubtful over the 
heated and glittering desert there, that I turned a few degrees to 
the westward to avoid the low and burning sands I had noticed ; 
and late in the evening arrived at a little puddle of water, having 
thus far kept within the influence of the thunder-storm. 1 
halted at this puddle for the night, but there was so little water 
that I did not seek to preserve it. I was now about ninety-six 
miles from the Great Creek, and had only found a few isolated 
puddles, on which, with every precaution, I could place no depen¬ 
dence. It was therefore absolutely necessary to find some more 
durable supply of water before I could venture much farther. 
Ascending a ridge of sand shortly after mounting my horse 1 
observed extensive grassy plains to the S.S.W. of me, which I 
had no doubt formed the termination of the large creek; for on 
crossing that creek 1 had left it on my left, trending to the N.W. • 
but it had struck both me and Mr. Stuart that it came up to the 
north in an extended semicircle. That it would fall short of or 
enter the Stony Desert I felt satisfied, supposing the Stony Desert 
to be what I imagined it was; but on entering the grassy plains I 
had seen, and for which I immediately made, as being the most 
likely place to find water, I saw that they were of great extent 
and fully equal to the reception of the superfluous waters of the 
creek, large as it was. After a long and anxious search we found 
a little narrow muddy channel, hid by long grass, near a native’s 
hut, in which there was some cool and clear water, which I enter¬ 
tained no doubt would last for a fortnight or more. Thankful for 
this discovery, I turned to the north once more, and pushed on, 
soon getting amongst sand hills rather than sandy ridges or dunes! 
I halted in lat. 20° 49< 9% and long. 139° 47', at a small sheet of 
