In preparing for this important journey, on which it was evident the success of the expedition would depend, I took more than ordinary precautions.  I purposed giving the charge of the camp to Mr. Stuart.—­I had established it on a small sandy rise, whereon we found five or six native huts.  This spot was at the northern extremity of the Park, but a little advanced into it.  Immediately in front of the tents there was a broad sheet of water shaded by gum-trees, and the low land between this and the sand hills was also chequered with them.  The position was in every way eligible.  The open grassy field or plain stood full in view, and the men could see the cattle browsing on it, but I directed Mr. Stuart never to permit them to be without one of the men as a guard, and to have them secured nightly in the stockyard.  In order to provide for the further security of the camp, I marked out the lines, for the erection of a stockade, wherein I directed Mr. Stuart to pitch one of the bell tents.  In this tent I instructed him to deposit the arms and ammunition, and to consider it as the rallying point in the event of any attack by the natives, in which case I told him his first step would be to secure the sheep.  I desired that the stockade might be commenced as soon as I left, and that it should be built of palisades 4 1/2 feet above the ground, and arranged close together.  In such a fortification I considered that the men would be perfectly safe, and as the stockyard was in a short range of the carbines I felt the cattle would be sufficiently protected.

I selected Flood, Lewis, and Joseph to accompany me, and took 15 weeks provisions.  This supply required all the horses but one, for although they had so long a rest at the old Depot they were far from being strong, since for the last three months they had lived on salsolaceous herbs, or on the shoots of shrubs, so that although apparently in good condition they had no work in them.  My last instructions to Morgan were to prepare and paint the boat in the event of her being required.

CHAPTER VIII.

Leave the depot for the north-west—­scarcity of water—­fossil
limestone—­arrive at the first creek—­extensive plains—­succession of
creeks—­flooded character of the country—­pond with fish—­sterile
country—­grassy plains—­intrepid native—­country apparently
improves—­disappointments—­water found—­appearance of the stony
desert—­night thereon—­the earthy plain—­hills raised by
refraction—­RECOMMENCEMENT of the sand ridges—­their undeviating
regularity—­conjectures as to the desert—­relative position of lake
Torrens—­concluding remarks.