“It was evident that what I had taken on my last journey to be the bed of a dry lake now contained water, and was of considerable size; but as my time was very limited, and the lake at a great distance, I had to forego my wish to visit it.  I have, however, no doubt of its being salt, from the nature of the country, and the fact of finding the water very salt in one of the creeks draining into it from the hills.  Beyond this lake (which I distinguished with the name of Colonel Torrens) to the westward was a low, flat-topped range, extending north-westerly, as far as I could see.”

From this point Eyre returned, pursuing his former homeward route.

[Map.  Eyre’s Explorations, 1840 and 1841.]

The main objects that now attracted the attention of the colonists of South Australia were (1) discovery to the northward, regarding both the extent of Lake Torrens and the nature of the interior; and (2) the possibility of the existence of a stock route to the Swan River settlement.  Eyre, however, after his late experience, was convinced that the overlanding of stock around the head of the Great Bight was impracticable.  The country was too sterile, and the absence of water-courses rendered the idea hopeless.  For immediate practical results, beneficial to the growing pastoral industry, Eyre favoured the extension of discovery to the north.  This then was the course adopted, and subscriptions were raised towards that end.  Eyre himself provided one-third of the needful horses and other expenses; and the Government and colonists found the remainder.

Meantime it was found that the country in the immediate neighbourhood of Port Lincoln was not altogether of the same wretched nature as that traversed by Eyre between Streaky Bay and the head of Spencer’s Gulf.  Captain Hawson, William Smith, and three others had made an excursion for some considerable distance, and found well-grassed country and abundance of water.  From the point whence they turned back, they had seen a fine valley with a running stream.  This valley they named Rossitur Vale, after Captain Rossitur of the French whaler Mississippi, the first foreign vessel to enter Port Lincoln.  Rossitur was the man who was destined later to afford opportune aid to Eyre, without which he would never have reached Albany.

On the 18th of June, 1840, Eyre’s preparations were complete, and he left Adelaide after a farewell breakfast at Government House, where Captain Sturt presented him with a flag —­ the Union Jack —­ worked by some of the ladies of Adelaide.

His party was not a large one considering the nature of the undertaking, consisting as it did of six white men and two black boys.  At Mount Arden they formed a stationary camp.  A small vessel called the Waterwitch was sent to the head of Spencer’s Gulf with the heaviest portion of their supplies, and the party had three horse drays with them.  Eyre trusted that a range of hills, which he had seen stretching to the north-east, would continue far enough to take him clear of the flat and depressed country around Lake Torrens —­ would, in fact, as he says, form a stepping-stone into the interior.