CHAPTER VII.

Migration of the birds—­journey to the eastward—­flooded plains—­native
family—­proceed south, but find no water—­again turn eastward—­sterile
country—­salt lagoon—­distant hills to the east—­return to the
camp—­intense heat—­officers attacked by scurvy—­journey to the west—­no
water—­forced to return—­illness of Mr. Poole—­visited by A
native—­second journey to the eastward—­story of the native—­kites and
crows—­erect A pyramid on mount Poole—­preparations for A
move—­indications of rain—­intense anxiety—­heavy rain—­Mr. Poole leaves
with the home returning party—­break up the depot—­Mr. Poole’s sudden
death—­his funeral—­progress westward—­the jerboa—­establishment of
second depot—­native gluttony—­distant mountains seen—­reach lake
Torrens—­examination of the country N.W.  Of it—­return to the
depot—­visited by natives—­preparations for departure again into the
northwest interior.

The three last days of February were cool in comparison to the few preceding ones.  The wind was from the south, and blew so heavily that I anticipated rough weather at the commencement of March.  But that rough month set in with renewed heat, consequent on the wind returning to its old quarter the E.S.E.  There were however some heavy clouds floating about, and from the closeness of the atmosphere I hoped that rain would have fallen, but all these favourable signs vanished, the thermometer ascending to more than 100 degrees.

When we first pitched our tents at the Depot the neighbourhood of it teemed with animal life.  The parrots and paroquets flew up and down the creeks collecting their scattered thousands, and making the air resound with their cries.  Pigeons congregated together; bitterns, cockatoos, and other birds; all collected round as preparatory to migrating.  In attendance on these were a variety of the Accipitrine class, hawks of different kinds, making sad havoc amongst the smaller birds.  About the period of my return from the north they all took their departure, and we were soon wholly deserted.  We no longer heard the discordant shriek of the parrots, or the hoarse croaking note of the bittern.  They all passed away simultaneously in a single day; the line of migration being directly to the N.W., from which quarter we had small flights of ducks and pelicans.