es they found a sufficiency in a natural well or
claypan; or again they struck for some creek towards the west or north,
whose irregular curves were outlined on the plain by the gum-trees
growing closely on its banks.

Nowhere did they experience great difficulty or serious obstacle on
their northward way, though sometimes, as they crossed the rough
ironstone ranges which crop up now and then on this great and ever
rising table-land, there was little feed, and the sharp stones cut the
feet of the animals as they trod with faltering footsteps down the
precipitous gulleys, out of which the floods had for ages torn a path.
As they followed the dry bed of such a path leading to rich flats, they
would come upon quiet pools deeply shaded by gums and marsh mallow, that
had every appearance of being permanent.

After they had been out ten days and had travelled over two hundred
miles, Burke had formed so good an opinion of Wright that he made him
third in charge, and sent him back to Menindie to replace Dr.
Beckler--whose resignation was now accepted--in command of the portion
of the expedition at that place. Wright took with him despatches to
forward to Melbourne, and his instructions were to follow up the advance
party with the heavy stores immediately.

Burke now pushed on to Cooper's Creek; and though the last part of their
journey led them over many of those tracts of country peculiar to
Australia where red sandy ridges rise and fall for many miles in rigid
uniformity, and are clothed for the most part in the monotonous grey of
salt and cotton-bush leafage, yet they saw before them what has since
proved to be one of the finest grazing lands in the world.

Still, as they went on, though the creeks and watercourses were more
frequent, everywhere they showed signs of rapid drying up.

The party reached the Cooper on November 11, and after resting for a
day, they set about preparing the depot. For about a fortnight from this
point Burke or Wills made frequent short journeys to the north or
north-east, to feel their way before starting for the northern coast.

On one occasion Wills went out taking with him M'Donough and three
camels, and when about ninety miles from the head camp he walked to a
rising ground at some distance from where they intended to stop to make
some observations, leaving M'Donough in charge of the camels and to
prepare tea.

On his return he found that the man had fallen asleep, and that the
camels