merous other circumstances, combine to render the progress of an explorer one of excitement and enthusiasm. We can, therefore, readily enter into the feeling of ardour which prompted Captain Sturt and his adventurous companions to push their advance into the uninviting regions of interior Australia.

An encampment was made at Parnari, a small glen,|| or water-hole, of picturesque appearance. Three natives were surprised here, as they lay asleep beneath a tree. Around such spots, where a spring affords nourishment to the soil, a vegetation green, if not profuse, springs up. A small grove encircled Parnari, while some beautiful plants grew in the bed of the creek. Having rested and refreshed themselves here, they pushed on again, and were soon compelled to renew the search for water. To their great joy, a pond was found; and, convinced that this want would be the greatest obstacle to the progress of the expedition, Captain Sturt caused a small tank to be constructed, which he proposed to send on a day or two in advance. The thirsty sun which hangs above this region soon dries up the few detached pools which alone remain after the subsidence of the river floods. Dry and naked plains, consequently, are of much more frequent occurrence than the small patches of verdure which occasionally gladden the traveller's eye. The leader of the present expedition, therefore, resolved to pitch a camp near the pool, which was surrounded with a verdant slope, or rather lay at the bottom of a hollow well, shaded by trees. Leaving the cattle and drags in this favourable position, he undertook a journey to the hills; whence, however, he returned, little satisfied with the aspect of the country, but convinced that they were now steadily working their way towards the unknown centre of Australia. The expedition was at this time in a healthy and efficient state. It had not suffered severely from privation; the sheep, bullocks, and horses were in excellent condition, and a kindly and good disposition evinced by every member of the party had contributed to render the journey agreeable to all. The hope of effecting that, in the prosecution of which all others had failed, buoyed up their hearts, and, after a further progress of several miles, they bivouacked at Hood's Creek in comfort and comparative hilarity. Hitherto, however, they had not proceeded over entirely untrodden ground. One or two explorers had preceded them. But he may be termed a wanderer in unexplored countries who is only the third or fourth European that has ever traversed those regions; consequently Captain Sturt was already a discoverer.

The district upon which they had now entered appeared less destitute of vegetation than the wide plain they had already crossed. Indeed, it seemed to present every necessary for the life of the savage. Trees, bushes, and grass were far from scanty, game was abundant, and a variety of vegetable productions fit for food were observed. Population, however, appeared exceedingly restricted. Some six or seven natives only were seen, hovering occasionally around Hood's Creek, and these were so timid, that they never would consent || to approach.

One morning, however, some men who had been to the eastward to tend the cattle, returned with information that four natives had been seen at a distance. Anxious to see and converse with some of the aborigines of this part of the country, from whom, moreover, he

hoped to obtain information concerning the route, Cap| tain Sturt ordered his horse to be saddled, with the intention of going in search of them; but just at that moment a native follower called out that three blacks were crossing from the flats to the eastward. The Englishman, therefore, started after them on foot, directing his servant to follow him. The ground was rough and stony, so that the alarmed natives were rapidly gained upon by their pursuers :—

"At last, seeing there was no escape, one of them stopped, who proved to be an old woman with two younger companions. I explained to her, when she got calm, for at first she was dreadfully frightened, that my camp was on the creek, and I wanted the black fellows to come and see me; and taking Tampawang's knife, which hung by a string round his neck, I showed the old lady the use of it, and putting the string over her head, patted her on the back, and allowed her to depart. To my surprise, in about an hour and a half after, seven natives were seen approaching the camp with the slowness of a funeral procession. They kept their eyes on the ground, and appeared as if marching to execution. However, I made them sit under a tree; a group of

seven of the most miserable human beings I ever saw. Poor emaciated creatures all of them, who, no doubt, thought the mandate they had received to visit the camp was from a superior being, and had obeyed it in fear and trembling. I made them sit down, gave them a good breakfast, and some presents, but could obtain no information from them-when at length they slunk off; and we never saw anything more of them."

At

A short excursion which Captain Sturt made to the eastward showed the barren and desolate nature of the country which extended beyond. Leaving Hood's Creek, they left all signs of vegetation. Mount Lyell rose there to the height of two thousand feet; but its naked sides, totally uncovered, save where a deep cleft or ravine afforded shelter to a grove of gloomy pines, presented not a blade of grass. A few bushes grew on the summit; otherwise no vegetation appeared. A telescopic view from the summit showed the same uninviting landscape. Nothing save the dark patches of pine forest grew upon the land. It was a waterless wilderness. To return to the camp, therefore, as speedily as possible, was the only resource. The distance was fifty-six miles; and during the whole of this progress the traveller met with but one dirty pool, close to which he sat down, and partook of a hasty meal. the bivouac the wheels of the drags had been seriously injured by the heat of the sun, so that a considerable delay was necessary before the expedition could once more be set in motion. A fire which broke out in one of the carts caused another stoppage, and Christmasday found them at no great distance from their former place of encampment. Mr. Poole, who had been sent on an excursion to the north-north-east, now rejoined the main party of the expedition. His report described the country over which he had passed as one bleak and barren to the last degree. Now he had arrived at a place where the blacks had been digging in vain for water; now his course lay along the bed of a dried-up creek; now he discovered a choked-up well, whence a scanty supply was obtained; once he discovered a patch of grass and a creek full of water—but a dark, dry scrub in general covered the land. A few native huts, of rude and primitive construction, were observed, though but one or two blacks were seen moving stealthily among the brushwood. The onward progress was across a country of precisely the same character. Mounting to the summit of a low, naked range, the travellers cast their view over an unbroken mass of the same brown arids, which swept before them like a

waveless sea to the very verge of the horizon. A small || with small hillocks, upon the summits of which rested party had been despatched to search for water, and a rounded masses of gypsum, from three to ten inches fire which was noticed burning brightly to the east- in diameter, flat and transparent, and connected with ward, but which was lost, was mistaken for a signal the ground by a pointed projection like that in a bull'sthat a well had been discovered. Such, however, did eye in window.glass. These curious substances were not prove the case; and the evening closed in, bringing very common in the district over which they were now disappointment to the travellers. passing. We hasten on with Captain Sturt and his companions, omitting to notice several curious parti

As day dawned, the travellers were in motion. False hopes led them into a dark pine forest, full of sand-culars, until we arrive at a native village, of which the ridges. Here they became entangled in the pathless article furnishes us with a curious and graphic repreand wood-covered expanse. The horses, bullocks, sentation. The huts were formed of strong boughs, and sheep, were urged over successive ridges; but fixed in the ground in a circle, and meeting at the top. another and another presented itself, and night threat- This framework was covered with a layer of grass and ened to set in wildly and darkly, and leave them leaves, over which was plastered a thick coating of wellstruggling to emerge from the solitudes of the pine worked clay. The larger huts were from eight to ten forest. The draught beasts were completely exhausted. || feet across, and four and a-half high, each having a small Their strength had been worn out by long and unin- one at its side. The apertures were only sufficiently terrupted labour, so that a halt was necessary in order large to allow of a man's creeping in on his hands and to recruit them a little. A little water was discovered, knees. All the dwellings faced the north-west. It a blessing at such a time, but the supply was insuf- appears to be probable that the natives only inhabit ficient. About three in the morning, however, a their villages during the winter season, since their bivouac was reached, the exhausted animals were re- construction forbids the idea of comfort, which would freshed, and, after a day and night of unparalleled toil,|| possibly be more consulted were the blacks in the a few hours' rest was obtained. The poverty of the habit of dwelling under roofs during the whole of the country was strikingly illustrated by one circumstance. year. As the expedition pushed further towards the Passing through the acacia-shrub, the explorers ob- centre, it was remarked that the huts were more com. served that the natives had been engaged in collecting pactly built, and with smaller apertures, as though the the seed. Indigent and poverty-stricken, indeed, must winds were more bitter in those regions than in the the people be who can subsist on such food, dry and districts approximating nearer to the coast lands. Seveunpalatable as it is. ral tribes of natives were encountered. Their beha The heat was now excessive. The ground became viour was generally quiet and inoffensive, characterised so hot that the bullocks could not stand upon it, and chiefly by timidity and astonishment at the strange every blade of vegetation appeared to have been withered sight presented to their view by the expedition, as it up by the sun. Both men and animals suffered dread-wound its way, with drags, carts, bullocks, and a flock fully. Some of the former had their skin blistered up, while the dogs could scarcely drag themselves along; one of the most valuable perished on the way. The sheep alone appeared not to suffer. They throve well, their fleece was of a snowy whiteness, and they became as fat as though they were rearing in a pasture at the colony. It appeared, however, as though the travellers were to suffer until they could endure their sufferings no longer, when a water-creek generally appeared to comfort them. One which was reached about the 3d of January was exceedingly pleasantly situated. Flowers and shrubs grew about it, shadysisted :trees arched overhead, and numerous birds peopled their branches. Close in the neighbourhood were several dwellings of the aborigines, the first which Captain Sturt describes :

of sheep, across the country.

Sullivan and Turpin, two members of the expeaition, were proceeding one morning to collect the cattle, and seeing a native and his "luba," or wife, crossing the plains to the eastward, proceeded after them. A large quantity of grass grew there, and the blacks were carrying stones to grind the seed, it being their harvest time. Sullivan proceeded after them; but they, being exceedingly alarmed, set fire to the grass. He leaped over the flaming piles, they threw themselves on the ground; and the lad, seeing their terror, de

*--

"No sooner, however, had the poor creatures escaped one dreaded object than they encountered another, in the shape of Mack, who was on horseback. As soon as they saw him, they took to their heels; but, putting his horse into a canter, he was up with them before they were aware of it. On this they threw down their stones, bags, net, and fire-stick, and scrambled up into a tree. The fire-stick set the grass on fire, and all their valuables would have been consumed, if Mack had not very properly dismounted, and extinguished the flames. He could not, however, persuade either of the natives to descend, and therefore rode away."

"They were all arched elliptically, by bending the bough of a tree at a certain height from the ground, and resting the other end on the forked stick at the opposite side of the arch. A thick layer of boughs was then put over the roof and back, on which there was a thick coating of red clay, so that the hut was impervious to wind or heat. These huts were of considerable size, and close to each there was a smaller one, equally well made as the larger. Both were left in perfect repair, and had This timidity of the aboriginal population is to be apparently been swept, prior to the departure of their inmates." regretted, since it prevented the travellers from obThe aborigines appear to have been much alarmed serving their characteristics, in manners, religion-if by the apparition of the white men traversing their they believe in anything-and general ideas. Mr. wild country. In one place thirty fires were found|| Poole, being accompanied by Mack, whom some of the still burning, with not a soul near them, whilst at in-natives recognised, did once, indeed, come into contact tervals a group of empty huts was passed. Water with a man and woman, whose behaviour was friendly continued scarce; a few holes were discovered, but they were full of nothing but thin mud. The soil was caked and blistered, and of a peculiar character, dotted

and confident. On the strength of this, Captain Sturt resolved to pay the tribe a visit, and accordingly started with a horse-load of sugar and presents, in the

hope of seeing them. But their encampment had been but this was unsuccessful; their natural timidity overbroken up. They had left the spot, turned towards the came even the desire of a present. Immense flights east, and their wide trail was soon lost on the hard surface of pigeons were seen in this neighbourhood, congreof the plains. A long sheet of water had been pointed gating in one vast winged army, as it were, preparing out by Mr. Poole; and, as the excursion in search of to migrate to the north-east. A few were shot; their the natives proved ineffectual, it was resolved to pitch flesh was most delicious. With a horse and cart laden the tents on this site. It was a pretty spot-a hollow, || with casks of water, Captain Sturt resolved to push on with a pond in the centre, surrounded by cliffs, as far as possible in a northerly direction. The counwith a lining of wood and vegetation. Here the try being now covered with sand-ridges, the progress camp was prepared. The high rocks, which rose on was most tedious. The poor animal suffered greatly. either hand far above the summits of the trees, af- So heavy and difficult was the nature of the ground, forded shade, while a fine flat was covered with tents that it was painful to tread upon; and though at intera little moving village, which the explorers erected for vals a cask was deposited in a hollow, or on some flat, themselves at intervals during their passage across the to lighten the load, the horse-whose usual allowance untraversed district of Australia. of water, from twenty-five to thirty gallons a day, had now been reduced to six-showed symptoms of exhaustion, and rather tottered than walked over the sand, which was matted with spinifex, rendering it still more painful to tread on. Pasture there was none; and, had not a few oats been brought with them, the animal must have perished of want. And here we find Captain Sturt committing a fault which is too common among writers of all classes—namely, laying down an exception as a rule, and opposing his own experience to the experience of ages:—

When, however, the travellers kindled their campfires in Depot Glen, on the 27th of January, 1845, it was not with the idea of never striking their tents again until the 17th of July following. Yet such proved to be the result. The expedition was as completely rooted to the spot as though it had been frozen in, in the icy seas of the north. To advance and to retreat were equally impossible. There was no water in any place save where the encampment lay, and in a lagoon in its immediate vicinity. There was neither forage nor fruit, and it was useless to look for any until the summer had fairly set in. To spend six months at Depot Glen was therefore an imperative necessity. Here there was an abundance of water and pasture; and the travellers resolved to employing our tea, smelling at the casks, and trying to get his nose into

the interval in the most useful manner. Excursions were, therefore, undertaken to all the neighbouring points, to the hilly country to the east, to the low ranges of the west, north, and south, beyond which stretched broad and barren plains. Some native encamp ments were discovered; and one morning Captain Sturt and his companions started before daybreak to pay visit to the blacks. A hot, stony plain was to be traversed, and whilst riding across it, a black cloud, composed apparently of minute spots, was observed in the distance. Presently it was discovered that these were hawks, whose singularly long and sweeping flight presented a remarkable spectacle. They came from the mountains; soaring at first a vast distance overhead, but rapidly descending, evidently with the idea that the unusual objects seen moving across the plain might prove to be prey for their voracity. Apparently, the appearance of the whites was formidable, for the flight of hawks, after coming so close as to be within the reach of the hand, suddenly wheeled round, swept with easy motion into the air, and were soon lost in the distance. This sight, sufficiently remarkable, alone rewarded the labour of a ride of forty miles, for the natives had disappeared, having covered up their fires, and left their nets, as if with the intention of returning; nevertheless, they did not make themselves visible.

Another attempt proved more fortunate. Captain Sturt, being out with one or two companions, observed several squatting on the plain, and succeeded in approaching them. During a visit of two hours' duration, however, no information concerning the seasons, or the character of the distant interior, could be obtained; since these people spoke a language, with nearly every word of which the travellers were unacquainted. An attempt was made to induce them to visit the camp,

||

"It was with great difficulty that we got our exhausted animal on the following morning, although I gave him as much water as I could spare. His docility under urgent want of food was astonishing. He was, in fact, troublesomely persevering, and walked round and round the cart; and ever, as we sat drink

the bung-holes, and implored for relief as much as an animal could do so, by looks. Yet I am satisfied that a horse is not capable of strong attachment to man, but that he is a selfish brute; for, however kindly he may be treated, where is the horse although hunger and thirst are upon him, and who, though carthat will stay, like the dog, at the side of his master to the last, niverous himself, will yet guard the hand that has fed him, and expire upon his post? But turn the horse loose at night, and where will you find him in the morning, though your life depended on his stay?"

The attachment of the horse for his master has passed into a proverb in the Arabian deserts, and instances of it abound in almost every other country. Strong and unfailing attachments, too, not, perhaps, so enduring as that of the dog, the most faithful of the animal creation, but sufficiently powerful to defend it from the charge of being a selfish brute, incapable of strong attachment to man. Thousands of instances are on record by which the direct contrary is proved. We dislike those sweeping and universal accusations, even though it be only a horse that is in question. Captain Sturt may not have found, among the eleven horses which accompanied the expedition, any animal of remarkable fidelity, or which evinced any great attachment for any of the party; but this experience is not, we imagine, sufficient to establish a rule. remarks, matters of opinion only though they be, we make with regret, for hitherto we have accompanied the able author of the present narrative, without being called upon to utter a word of censure. Few works are there, indeed, and few writers, of whom the same might be said.

These

Having returned to the creek, and being deterred, by the absence of water, from a proposed excursion to the eastward, Captain Sturt resolved to trace the creek, in the hopes that it might favour the future advance of the party into the interior. In pursuance of

this design he rode from the camp, with two companions, river. He was never content to remain idle in one on the morning of the 17th, and kept along the place, and resolved to make the utmost of his time. edge of the water, which increased in quantity, now In company with Mr. Browne and two other men, spreading over large flats, now lying in a deep bed, he started on the 12th of February; and, after traand occasionally washing the spurs of the sand-hills versing a wide range, proceeded over plains of varied which formed the flat valley through which it ran. nature, now grassy, now barren, and now covered with At the distance of about fifteen miles, another creek rich mould. It was evident that water must exist formed a junction with the main one; and in a deep somewhere in that direction; and a few miles proved and shaded hollow was some water, so pure and clear, the truth of the conjecture. Towards evening, a large that the travellers could not refrain from stopping to serpentine pool was observed, surrounded by a stretch take tea beneath the trees. On the bank was a native of light alluvial soil, well fitted for cultivation, on hut, neatly built and quite new, in which were some which were growing several new shrubs. Halting at few valuables, amongst them a piece of red ochre. this place, the travellers observed in the distance a The occupant, however, had fled. There were nu- small column of smoke rising from the ground; and, merous traces of natives along the edge of the creek, looking more narrowly, saw that a plain, covered with and the remains of small fires, extending in two lines short crisp grass, extended for miles in that direction. as far as the eye could reach. It appeared probable The grass was of that kind from which the natives that the aborigines encamped in this place at certain collect seed for subsistence at this season of the year. seasons of the year. The gum trees, with foliage of a Smoke was again seen in the morning; and, concludbright green, increased in number and size as they ad-ing that some of the aborigines were encamped on the vanced. Further on, it was evident that the natives verge of the plain, Captain Sturt resolved to ashad suddenly retreated, since a quantity of grass, of a certain the fact. He, therefore, after a hasty peculiar kind, was spread out to dry on the sloping meal, pushed over a wide extent of flooded bank. The heat was excessive. lands, covered with different kinds of grass, large heaps of which had been threshed by the natives, and piled up like haycocks. The distance was not inconsiderable. At length they arrived at a large clump of gum trees, where the channel, or creek, which had been lost on the upper plains, again became visible. It was here very broad, and quite bare, with the exception of a belt of polygorum growing on either side, which had been set on fire, and was now in flames. A shallow sheet of water still rested in the bed, and close to it the party sat down to dine:

A broad plain, across which the creek ran, now extending into wide pools, and now narrowing, occupied several hours of the journey. A pretty, well-wooded, but confined valley succeeded, through the bottom of which the creek continued to run for seven miles. A lofty white bank of saponaceous clay now crossed the valley like a wall. Close to this there were signs of eddying waters, as if those of the creek had been thrown back; but at a spot where the bank sunk low, these pour over when they rise to its level. On ascending the bank, they saw a beautiful park-like plain, clothed with a rich growth of grass, and ornamented by picturesque groups of trees. The change from the almost unvaried sterility they had left behind, to this scene of verdure, was most striking. Leaving a dry, barren plain, they had entered the valley-the portal, as it were, of the grassy park-whose extent was, how ever, limited, for, extending the gaze towards all points of the horizon, they could discern in the distance a circle of gum trees, inclosing the verdant oasis, behind which could be seen the bank of white clay, which encircled it as a rim. Traversing the park, where the waters of the creek evidently exhausted themselves, and where the soil was so rich that it decomposed, Captain Sturt soon reached the opposite side, and descending the slope, immediately found himself on the brown scrub-covered plain, from which he had so recently emerged. Further on the sand-ridges again commenced, the same arid country swept around, and sight was soon lost of the green face of the oasis. A short progress towards the south terminated the excursion, and the party returned by another and less interesting route to the camp at Depot Glen.

It was now evident that a further advance into the north-west interior would be impossible, at least for some months. A tedious imprisonment in the glen was therefore to be expected, varied only by short excursions into the surrounding districts. The spot where they were encamped lay considerably to the north-west of the Darling; and Captain Sturt resolved, if possible, to ascertain the nature of the country extending between the encampment and the

"It was singular enough that we should have pulled up close to the camp of some natives, all of whom had hidden themselves in the polygorum, except an old woman, who was asleep, but who did not faint on seeing Mr. Browne close to her when she awoke. With this old lady we endeavoured to enter into conversation, and, in order to allay her fears, gave her five or six the polygorum, and advanced towards us. Finding that the

cockatoos we had shot; on which two others crept from behind

men were out hunting, and only the women with the children were present, I determined to stop at this place until the following morning; we therefore unloaded the horses, and allowed them their families. They were much astonished at seeing us quietly to go and feed. A little before sunset, the two men returned to seated before their huts, and approached us with some caution, but soon got reconciled to our presence. One of them had caught a lizard; but the other had not killed anything, so we gave him a dinner of mutton. The language of these people was a mixture between that of the river and hill understood their answers to general questions, we could not tribes; but, from what reason I am unable to say, although we gather any lengthened information from them. I gave the elder native a blanket, and to the other a knife, with both of which they seemed highly delighted."

Captain Sturt subsequently paid the natives another brief visit, and was received with cordiality. Two families of blacks joined them from the south, and told the travellers that all the water in that neighbourhood had disappeared, "that the sun had taken it; " and that to the westward, in which direction Captain Sturt proposed journeying, the same was the case. After this discouraging announcement, our travellers resolved to return to the camp in Depot Glen. Here the heat was so excessive that the ground was thoroughly warmed to a depth of three or four feet. Every screw in the boxes was drawn; the horn

handles of the instruments and the combs were split into fine lamina; the lead dropped out of the pencils; the signal rockets were entirely spoiled; the wool on the sheep, and the hair of the head, ceased to grow; the flour lost more than eight per cent. of its weight; and so rapidly did the ink dry in the pen, that it was difficult to write. An attempt was made in a few days to push on a little, but failed. The explorers were forced to return to the glen. Ill health began to make its appearance among the members of the expedition. Mr. Poole became seriously ill, several of the officers were affected with scurvy, so that it appeared improbable that, when the season allowed of an advance, all the party would be able to proceed.

A solitary native, old and emaciated, half dead with hunger and thirst, came to visit the camp. They could not learn whence he came; he would, or could, give no information; his demeanour was unlike that of any of their former visitors; it was neither timid, nor marked by any display of curiosity. He remained for a fortnight with his new friends, and had grown absolutely fat before the expiration of that time, when he took his departure. His presence had been a kind of solace to the imprisoned travellers, who felt lonely when he had gone. Their position was now one of extreme discomfort. They had penetrated deep into the heart of the country; before them stretched the wide plains of the interior; around, the stony desert extended its arid expanse: they could not retreat, neither could they advance; it was uncertain when release would come.

there a verdant sweep of land was traversed. Occasional parties of the aborigines were encountered; some of them carried from 150 to 200 beautiful jerboas, in their bags. These animals are much sought after as food. They can seldom be caught except after a fall of rain, such as had just been experienced. Lake Torrens, above a hundred miles distant from the depot, presented its blue sheets of salt water to their view on the 4th of August. Having minutely examined it, and ascertained its bearings, Captain Sturt once more turned towards a depot which he had formed on the way, and where he determined to leave a portion of the expedition, whilst he himself with a few companions pushed their way into the north-west interior. The site chosen for the camp was eligible. It was a small, sandy rise, dotted with a few native huts. A broad sheet of water lay directly in front of the tents, surrounded by numerous shady green trees, whilst a grassy plain, extending beyond, afforded abundant pasture for the cattle. Arrangements were made for the erection of a stout stockade, besides which, a space was to be inclosed for the cattle to sleep in at night.

tenantless, at others occupied by the Australian savages, were passed. On one occasion, a warrior came down to the Europeans, with threatening gestures, intimating, as plainly as he could, that his tribe would destroy them if they advanced. Seeing, however, that his threats produced no effect, he softened his manner, and, finally, entered into friendly intercourse.

Captain Sturt's advance was very rapid. The nature of the country was varied-grassy flats, stretches of scrub land, undulating sand-rises, with a few creeks here and there, alternated; while occasionally a spot of singular beauty lay, like a rich gem, on the surface of the waste. A singular phenomenon was observed at one place, where, in an isolated pond, of small size, thirteen fine fish were discovered-a welcome meal for men who had "We had witnessed migration after migration of the feathered been living on an allowance of five pounds of flour per tribes, to that point to which we were so anxious to pursue our week. At length they entered upon immense plains, way. Flights of cockatoos, of parrots, of pigeons, and of bit-covered with fine grass; a few native huts, sometimes terns, birds also whose notes had cheered us in the wilderness, all had taken the same high road to a better and more hospitable region. The vegetable kingdom was at a stand, and there was nothing either to engage the attention or attract the eye." The cattle and sheep had laid bare the ground for miles around; the axe had made a broad gap in the pretty line of gum trees which ran along the creek; while the water was observed to be gradually sinking and diminishing day after day, exhausted by the animals, and dried up by the sun and winds. A species of melancholy came over the minds of the party; and, to relieve the monotony of existence, the men were employed in erecting a pyramid of stones, eighteen feet in height, and twenty-one feet at the base, at the summit of Red Hill. The employment was salutary; but little did its projector think that he was engaged in raising a monument for his fellow-traveller, Mr. Poole. Such, however, was the fact; the rude structure looks over the lonely grave, a record of suffering, pain, and death. Too often does it happen that the enthusiasm of the explorer is checked by the loss of a dear friend, whose absence is the more acutely felt on account of the wild loneliness of a new region. Early in July the first rain fell, the waters of the creek rose once more, and the pattering of the shower upon the tents and in the pool, formed the sweetest music in the cars of the long-pent-up party of adventurers.

On the 10th, Mr. Poole died. His remains were placed in the ground, beneath the shade of a gavillia; and the onward march was commenced in melancholy and sad foreboding. Water was never too plentiful, the earth was still comparatively barren, although here and

We must not pause to accompany our traveller through every mile of his progress, interesting as it is. We must pass on across the stony desert with unobserving eyes, and, entering a new region, strike into forests full of every description of birds, whose loud and discordant notes formed a strange concert as the travellers passed through. They had so long lost sight of the feathered creation that the appearance of these birds was a novelty. In the bed of a wide creek were two magnificent trees, the largest in the forest, and beneath them was a mound of earth, where Captain Sturt discovered a well of unusual dimensions. It was twenty-two feet in depth, and eight feet wide at the top; well-trodden paths led from this spot towards all points of the compass. Striking into one which ran to the left, the travellers soon came upon a village consisting of nineteen huts; containing, however, no evidences of recent occupation. Troughs and stones for grinding seed were lying about, with broken spears and shields. Two or three of the dwellings were of considerable size, to each of which smaller ones were attached, opening into the main apartment. Small boughs lay scattered about, and the appearance of the place altogether tended to show that the inhabitants only lived here during the season in which they collect