east to west, or nearly so—­that also being the present dip of the interior, as I shall elsewhere prove.  I further think, that the line of the Stony Desert being the lowest part of the interior, the current must there have swept along it with greater force, and have either made the breach in the sandy ridges now occupied by it, or have prevented their formation at the time when, under more favourable circumstances, they were thrown up on either side of it.  I do not know if I am sufficiently clear in explanation, finding it difficult to lay down on paper all that crowds my own mind on this subject; neither can I, without destroying the interest my narrative may possess, now bring forward the arguments that gradually developed themselves in support of the foregoing hypothesis.

Although I had been unable to penetrate to the north-west of Lake Torrens, that basin appeared to me to have once formed part of the back waters of Spencer’s Gulf; still I long kept in view the possibility of its being connected with some more central body of water.  Having however gained a position so much higher to the north, and almost on the same meridian, and having crossed so remarkable a feature as the Stony Desert (which, as I suppose, was once the focus of a mighty current, to judge from its direction passing to the westward), I no longer encouraged hopes which, if realized, would have been of great advantage to me, or regretted the circumstances by which I was prevented from more fully examining the north-east and northern shores of Lake Torrens.  I felt doubtful of the immediate proximity of an inland sea, although many circumstances combined to strengthen the impression on my mind that such a feature existed on the very ground over which we had made our way.  I had assuredly put great credit on the statements of the solitary old man who visited the Depot, but his information as far as we could judge had turned out to be false; and I was half angry with myself for having been so credulous, well aware as I was of the exaggerations of the natives, and how little dependence can be placed on what they say.

CHAPTER IX.

Flood’s quick sight—­forest full of birds—­native well—­birds collect to
drink—­dangerous plain—­Flood’s horse lost—­scarcity of water—­turn
northward—­discover A large creek—­bright prospects—­sudden
disappointment—­salt lagoon—­scarcity of water—­salt water
creek—­character of the interior—­forced to turn back—­risk of
advancing—­the furthest north—­return to and examination of the
creek—­proceed to the westward—­dreadful country—­journey to the
north—­again forced to return—­natives—­station on the creek—­concluding
remarks.