of each ridge, amidst the sickly pink and glaucous
coloured vegetation around. I fear I have already wearied the reader by a
description of such scenes, but he may form some idea of the one now
placed before him, when I state, that, familiar as we had been to such,
my companion involuntarily uttered an exclamation of amazement when he
first glanced his eye over it. "Good Heavens," said he, "did ever man see
such country!" Indeed, if it was not so gloomy, it was more difficult
than the Stony Desert itself; yet I turned from it with a feeling of
bitter disappointment. I was at that moment scarcely a degree from the
Tropic, and within 150 miles of the centre of the continent. If I had
gained that spot my task would have been performed, my most earnest wish
would have been gratified, but for some wise purpose this was denied to
me; yet I may truly say, that I should not thus have abandoned my
position, if it had not been a measure of urgent and imperative
necessity.

After what I have said, the feelings with which, on the morning of the
8th, we unloosed our horses from the bushes, to which they had all night
been fastened, will easily be imagined. Just as we were about to mount, a
flight of crested parroquets on rapid wing and with loud shriek flew over
us, coming directly from the north, and making for the creek to which we
were going--it was a singular occurrence just at that moment, and so I
regarded it, for I had well nigh turned again. It proved, however, that
to the very last, we had followed the line of migration with unerring
precision. What would I not have given for the powers of those swift
wanderers of the air? But as it was I knew not how long they had been on
the wing, or how far it was to the spot where they had last rested.

We passed the salt lagoon about 10 a.m. of the 9th, and stopped at a
shallow but fresh water pond, a little below it, no less thankful than
our exhausted animals that we were relieved from want, and the anxiety
attendant on the last few days. On passing the lagoon we saw two natives
digging for roots, but did not disturb them. In the afternoon, however,
Joseph and Lewis saw twenty, who exhibited some unfriendly symptoms, and
would not allow them to approach. They were not armed, but carried red
bags. The food of the natives here, as in other parts of the interior,
appeared to be seeds of various kinds. They had even been amongst the
spinifex gathering the seed of the mesembryanthemum, o