a fine country, but to solve a geographical problem.  I trust I am not presumptuous in saying that, from a geographical point of view, the results of this expedition have been complete.  If I did not gain the heart of the continent, no one will refuse me the credit of having taken a direct course for it.  My distance from that hitherto mysterious spot was less than 150 miles.  In ten days I should have reached the goal; and that task would have been accomplished had rain fallen when I was at my farthest north.  Had I found such a river as the Victoria, I would have clung to it to the last; but those alone will really know the nature of the country who shall follow me into it When I determined on turning homewards, with mind depressed and strength weakened, it appeared to me that I had done all that man could do.  Now, under the influence of restored health, I feel that I did far too little.  I can only say that I would not hesitate again to plunge into those dreary regions, that I might be the first to place my foot in the centre of this vast territory, and finally to raise the veil which still shrouds its features, even though, like those of the veiled prophet, they should wither the beholder.

ACROSS THE CONTINENT.  SOUTH TO NORTH.  I

+Source.+—­Papers relating to the Burke and Wills Exploring Expedition, 1861.  Published in the Argus, pp. 2-5, 19-20

In the year 1860 an expedition was planned to travel from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria.  The leader was Robert Burke, and though with Wills, Gray, and King he reached the Gulf, the return was fatal owing to the desertion of the Cooper’s Creek Depot by the other members of the expedition.

In the course of his evidence before the Commission of Inquiry Mr. King, the sole survivor, said: 

The day before we arrived at Cooper’s Creek we were allowed to consume as much provisions as we chose, in expectations of finding supplies so soon.  We had only one pound of dry meat when we got there.  If we had found no provisions there, we should all have died.  It was as much as any of us could do to travel along the side of the creek.  We had been so weak, that for ten days before, we had scarcely been able to make much distance, or to walk about.  I seemed to be worse than either Mr. Burke or Mr. Wills, but after we arrived at the Depot I improved much more than they did.  We had no difficulty in finding the provisions there.  We arrived in the moonlight at half-past seven o’clock at night, after having pushed on thirty miles that day.  Mr. Burke rode on one of the camels, and I and Mr. Wills on the other.  We had our revolvers with us, and had been continually shooting at the crows and hawks.  When we got to the Depot Mr. Burke was a little ahead of Mr. Wills and myself.  He had often before said, “I think I can see their tents ahead,” and made several remarks like that until we arrived there.  When we got near,