The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-02

mnfsuplals llad lnVarllDiY Deen associated
with fertile soil, but it is now certain
that the individuals OF the species observed
by AUSTIN had struyed inward from the
coast range.
Similar apparently propiious augulcs
attended the early stages Of the FoRREsr
expedit on, undertaken In 1874. Finding at
the head W tiers of the Murchison patches
of grass, thin woods inhabited by kan
garoos.au fresh water lake, tceming with
wild ducks, 1t pushed forward with re-
newcd confidence upon its four months
journey through the desert. From this
point eastward, however, across eight de-
grccs of longitude, stretched an unhroken
waste, hllcss, treeless, and rarely ilccke
with grass or water, over which the en-
plorers toilcd, exposed to terrible priva-
tions, and reaching the hill country of the
Cavanagh Chain in Il state of extreme pros
tration. Their route generally followed
the twenty-sixth parallel, but, through
frequent loug excursions on either flank,
the utter sterllty Of n broad belt could be
deemed established.
The FoRRusrs had crossed West Austria
Lin from west to east. Six months earlier,
BrRroN had traced parallel line of cx-
ploration some four hundred miles further
north. From the starting point in the
mcdonnell mountains to the settlements
ut Oallhover river, his journey covered
more than thousand miles, and occupied
almost a year. He describes the whole
territory rs an ocean of san1, ridged in
pillows by the wind, unrelieyed by n single
true oasis and exhibiting few traces of
vegetable life. How formidable are the
obstacles to travel in this region may be
Inferred from the fact that, while salt
lakes and empty river courses were not in
frequent, the interval bet wecn fresh water
springs sometimes amounted to hundreds
of miles. As Col. WARBURroN saw no.
where any signs OF mountain ranges
trending southwark toward the section
traversed by the FoRREsrs it may he con-
sidered certain that the whole Intervening
area is an impracticable. ard waste
II must not be supposed, however, that
this desollte tract extends without break
to the hill country which forms the west
ern limit of New South Wales Mar the
18th meridian the desert Is bisccted by the
mcdonnell chain, whose slopes and val
leys, clothed with heritage aud already
tenanted by herds, yet still character I'D
by deficiency of water, recall the features
OF an Asatic stc9pe. But the FoRIEsr aud
WARBURroS explorations, com )letiug or
correcting previous information, have
conclusively shown almost the whole Of
North and West Australia to b. totally
unfit for human habtation. Ihc still more
recent expedition of GILES, who, in 1875,
examined the region between Fowler Bay
and Lake Torreus, would indicate that u
large section Of South Australia mast like
wise be stricken from the chart of useful
| territory.
The populous colonies of Victoria and
New South Wales have been slow TO accept
those geographical conclusions which con-
| demued two-thirtiJ of their cOntineut.
Now. however, that ,he dream OF inland
expansion has been shattered, their en-
ergies may be turned toward tn" Malay
archipelago. In that quarter Their only
rivals Will be the Dutch whose acquisitions
are iuconsiderable beyond the lint Is oi the
| island of Java.