and
most ambitious plan. It was called The Elder Exploring Scientific
Expedition, and its main purpose was announced to be the completion of
the exploration of Australia. A map was prepared on which a huge extent
of the continent was partitioned off into blocks each bearing a
distinctive letter, A, B, C, D, etc., quite irrespective of the fact that
all these blocks had been partially explored and that some had even been
settled.

The leadership of the party was offered to and accepted by David Lindsay,
who had already won for himself a name as a capable explorer in South
Australia. The second in charge was L.A. Wells. As the expedition was in
the main destitute of any striking results, a short synopsis of the
journey will satisfy our requirements.

Shortly after the expedition crossed the border-line between South
Australia and West Australia, Mr. Leech, one of the responsible officers,
was despatched on a fruitless trip northward to search for traces of the
ill-fated Gibson, who had perished with Giles some seventeen years
previously. The expedition then proceeded via Fort Mueller to Mount
Squires, where water was obtainable. Thence a south-west course was taken
to Queen Victoria's Spring. In latitude 29 degrees, 270 miles south of
Mount Squires, the eastern end of a patch of good pastoral country was
observed. On reaching the springs they were found to be dry, and all the
intended exploration which was to be effected from this base had to be
abandoned, the party having to push on to Fraser's Range; and this hasty
trip through the desert comprised the only useful work done. Lindsay
reported that, when half-way to the Range, they passed some good country
consisting of rich red soil, producing good stock bushes but all
exceedingly dry. A belt of country deserving the attention of prospectors
was also noted. Having rested some time at the Range, they set out to
examine, if possible, the western side of the desert they had just
traversed, but lack of water compelled them to take an extreme westerly
course to the Murchison by way of Mount Monger, passing through a country
covered with miserable thicket on a sandy soil with granite outcrops. On
the 1st of January, 1892, they reached their destination, when the
majority of the members left the party, and the leader was recalled to
Adelaide.

At the termination of the original expedition, or rather before its
conclusion was absolutely determined on, L.A. Wells made a flyin