on. Carr-Boyd and Camel. Photographed at Laverton, Western
Australia, October, 1906.]

20.1. CAMBRIDGE GULF AND THE KIMBERLEY DISTRICT.

The futile rush for gold to the Kimberley district had one good result --
a better appreciation of its pastoral capabilities, and numerous short
expeditions were made in search of grazing country.

Amongst these was one by W.J. O'Donnell and W. Carr-Boyd, who explored an
area extending from the overland line in the direction of Roebourne, and
were fortunate in finding good country. Later, in 1896, Carr-Boyd,
accompanied by a companion named David Breardon, who was afterwards out
with David Carnegie, visited the country about the Rawlinson Ranges and
penetrated to Forrest's Alexander Spring. His name is also known in
connection with exploration in the Northern Territory, and he has made
several excursions between the Southern goldfields of West Australia and
the South Australian border.

His experiences were not unlike those of the other explorers; he had to
struggle on against heat, thirst, and spinifex, and found occasional
tracts of pastoral land destitute of surface water.

In 1884 Harry Stockdale, an experienced bushman, started from Cambridge
Gulf in order to investigate the country to the southward, and explore
the land in its vicinity.

From the Gulf southward, he traversed well-watered and diversified
country till he reached Buchanan's Creek, which must be distinguished
from the stream of the same name in the Northern Territory of South
Australia.* Having formed a depot there, he hoped to make further
explorations, but owing to certain irregularities which had occurred
among his followers in his absence on a flying trip, he was compelled to
start immediately for his destination on the overland line. A very
singular incident happened during this latter part of his journey. Two of
the men, named Mulcay and Ashton desired, under the plea of sickness, to
be left behind, and resisted every attempt to turn them from their
purpose. Stockdale reached the line after suffering great hardship, but
the fate of the two abandoned men eluded all subsequent search.

*[Footnote.] See Chapter 16.

20.2. LINDSAY AND THE ELDER EXPLORING EXPEDITION.

[Illustration. Sir Thomas Elder, G.C.M.G. Photo: Duryea, Adelaide.

Illustration. David Lindsay.]

In 1891 Sir Thomas Elder of South Australia, who had already done much in
the cause of exploration, projected another expedition on a large