natural division of the continent." I hope I do not take too much credit
to myself; if I say that I have set that question at rest; and that,
considering the nature of the country into which I penetrated, no such
chain can reasonably be supposed to exist. If, indeed, any mountains had
really been in the direction specified, it appears to me that I must have
discovered them, but, as far as my poor opinion goes, I think the sandy
ridges, both I and my readers have so much reason to hold in dread, are
as extensive on one side of the Stony Desert as the other. In truth, I
believe, that not only is such the case, but that the same region extends
with undiminished breadth even to the great Australian Bight, which
occupies a space along the south coast of the continent, as nearly as may
be of equal breadth with the sea-born Desert itself; and I cannot but
conclude that that remarkable wall, shewing a perpendicular front to the
ocean, but sloping inwards from the coast, was thrown up simultaneously
with the fossil bed of the Murray, during the time those convulsions, by
which the changes in the central parts of the continent, to which I have
already called attention, were going on. But I venture to give these
opinions with extreme diffidence; they may be contrary to general views
on the subject. I merely record my own impressions from what I have
observed, in the hope that I may assist the geologist in his inferences.
The ideas I would desire to convey are clear enough in my own mind, but I
must confess that I feel a great difficulty in placing them so forcibly
and so clearly before my readers as I could desire.

END OF VOLUME I

VOLUME II

TRAVELS IN AUSTRALIA

CHAPTER I.

REFLECTIONS ON OUR DIFFICULTIES--COMMENCE THE RETREAT--EYRE'S CREEK--PASS
THE NATIVE WELL--RECROSS THE STONY DESERT--FIND ANOTHER WELL WITHOUT
WATER--NATIVES--SUCCESSFUL FISHING--VALUE OF SHEEP--DECIDE ON A
RETREAT--PROPOSE THAT MR. BROWNE SHOULD LEAVE--HIS REFUSAL TO DESERT THE
PARTY--MR. BROWNE'S DECISION--PREPARE TO LEAVE THE CAMP--REMARKS ON THE
CLIMATE--AGAIN LEAVE THE DEPOT--SINGULAR EXPLOSION--DISCOVER A LARGE
CREEK--PROCEED TO THE NORTH--RECURRENCE OF SAND RIDGES--SALT WATER
LAKE--AGAIN STRIKE THE STONY DESERT--ATTEMPT TO CROSS IT.

To that man who is really earnest in the performance of his duty to the
last, and who has set his heart on the accomplishment of a great object,
the attainment of which would place his name h