Page:Expeditions of Discovery in South Australia (IA jstor-1798142).pdf/9

, no doubt of its being salt, from the nature of the country, and the fact of finding the water very salt in one of the creeks draining into it from the hills. Beyond this lake to the westward was a low flat-topped range, extending north-westerly as far as I could see. The intervening country between Flinders Range and the Lake (which I distinguished with the name of Colonel Torrens), and extending as far as the eye could reach to the northward, consisted of extensive plains of firm red sandy soil destitute of vegetation, and divided by ridges of sand wooded with shrubs and stunted bushes. Through these plains ran many large creeks whose courses were marked by lines of lofty gum trees. These emanated from Flinders Range, and, though dry in their channels below the hills, water might generally be procured by following them up among the ranges. They all fall in a westerly direction, or a little north of west, and drain into Lake Torrens. Flinders Range still continued at the time of my return, and another small detached hill was also visible to the N.W.

"During my absence to the north, I sent out my overseer to examine the country to the eastward. He reported that Flinders Range, or rather a succession of ranges, continued for about eight miles: that he then crossed a large barren plain through which a creek was running to the northward, and which was probably one of those I had crossed after it had wound through the hills. Beyond this, he found the country consist of alternate ridges and flats of a bare and barren character, with a good deal of the prickly grass, until, at about 60 miles east of the depot, he obtained a view of the low flat sea of scrub similar to that near the Murray river, and which probably is a continuation of that scrub extending to the northward. From this point he returned to the depot. After leaving the camp near Mount Arden, I returned to Adelaide, passing through a great extent of fine and valuable country, well watered by numerous running streams, nearly all of which retain water even in the driest seasons.

"In reviewing the result of our labours, I cannot but regret they have not been more productive of interest and utility to the colonists. We have barely succeeded in effecting the object of the expedition by passing through a certain extent of country; and for this unsatisfactory result we are indebted solely, under Providence, to the very favourable season we experienced (and which appears to have extended generally over the colony). During the whole of our course from Port Lincoln along the coast to Point Bell, and across the interior to the head of Spencer's Gulf, a distance of 600 miles through, I believe, an hitherto unexplored country, we never crossed a single creek, river, or chain of ponds, nor did we meet with any permanent water anywhere, with the exception of three solitary springs on the coast, to which the few natives we met with appear to resort when the water left by the rains further inland is dried up.

"The variation of the compass I found to diminish as I advanced to the westward, and again increased as I advanced easterly towards Spencer's Gulf. At Streaky Bay it was only about 2° E., whilst at the head of Spencer's Gulf it was about 7° E."