, 1880-01-31

an expedition TO 60 500 miles to the east ward
or Perth, and, after being out some four
and discovering large tracts of good
pastoral land, which is now we'll taken I'D, the
party returned. In 1875 be went az second
again to his brother John, on an exploration
which started from Champion Bay, a little
north of Perth, and went right through the
interior TO the telegraph line at Peak station,
about 600 miles northwest from Adelaide.
Last year the Surveyor-Ge General of West Aus
tralia succeeded in getting q grant tow ards
deiraying the expenses Of a journey in tho
Northern Territory. The settlers gave 26
horses, anG on the 18th of January last, taking
provisions for six months, Forrest and his
plucky little band started from Perth to 90 to
Port Darwin. along the north west coast of
Australia. The last settlement they loft was
q station belonging to Msssrs. Grant and
Anderson. Oh The De Grey River, in latitude
e0.l0 aud longitude 1l9 east. This they left
on the 18th Of February. and, keeping from
five to 90 miles inland, they travelled 400
miles to Beagle Bay. discovering q large tract
of valuable country along the coast suitable
for sheep and cattle. From Beagle Bay they
went to Kings Sound, and followed its shores
inland until they struck the Eitzroy River.
ii parry tuOu Vn 6uu bEdV6lI0U
along the river bank for $50 miles to the south
east, and about 100 miles northeast. They
described this as a noble stream, teeming with
fish. navigable by small steamers for a distance
of 100 miles inland, and running through rich
country ranged over by thousands of emus and
kangaroos. As far as could be estimated. the
river basin contains 5 ,000,0 900 acres of land
suitable for pastoral purposes. and though the
alluuial n ofa > cuhioob % anu~u~ GooJ ~.Ao.I-
could easily, with a little care, be taken to the
high land. which is only a few miles from the
river. The Fitzroy was crossed In latitude II
deg. 80 min, and longitude l96 deg. and the
explorers then went northwest towards Collier
Bay, making for the GIenelg. a river which
was discovered by Sir Georges Grey. For lao
miles they toiled on at the base of a tablsland
2,O00ft. high until they managed to surmouns
the range, and then hill after bill rose before
them. A fortnight was spent 10 making tracks
up these ascents, tracks which. after all, were
50 rugged that of their 90 horses, weakened BY
toll, nine died and finally. when within 20
miles Of the Glenelg, when Stephen Range, fix
ed by Sir George, wss quite visibls, they had
to ahaUdOn the attempt to go further north.
They returned to the Fitzroy, keeping soma
30 miles south of their outward tracks aud
passing through very 6ue country, and took a
little rest there, On the 10Th July. with
Ii horses and so days. provisions, they started
east-norih-east for the overland telegraph line.
Here, for the first time, they had to economics
their r%ations, and as they consumed the load of
a horse, they finished by consuming the horse
itself, drying the flesh 10 the sun. They
travelled 100 miles to the Dividing Range.
crossed In latitude Ii deg. 10 min., thence
went 240 miles to Victoria River, near its
junction with the Wickham. During this journey
th ley discovered millions of acres of fertile we'll.
crossed country, intersected with numerous
large rivers. all running north and northwest.
They saw no big game, but Hocks of wild
turkeys were net with, and the rivers, we'll.
stocked with fish, were covered with geese
and ducks. During his entire journey. Mr..
Forrest saw rs ,OO0, 900 acres of pastoral land,
the greater portion being 10 undulating Nats,
aud poison plants being conspicuously absent,
Large numbers of natives were seen. and
though they may be described, in sailor fash.
ion, as displaying "mannsrs none, customs
nasty, p" they did not modest the travellers. For
the most part, they Were fine big men and some
of their customs would be extremely interest
ing TO the ethnologist. That they had never
met white men before was shown BY their
refusal to eat any of the food offered them. and
by the fact that not q woman vas ever to he
seen, though there must have been plenty Of
them with the different tribes encountered. On
leaving the Victoria they came to 90 almost
waterless country, and their provisions began
to give out, and when they were about 100
miles from the telegraph line, Forrest deter
rn.noJ A. orob ~. oLooI --:&L