The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-08-30
EXTENSIVE PEDESTRIANISM.
Il WALK ACROSS 900
MILES THROUGH A WILDERNESS.

Mr.. Ernest Morrison, 4 son of Mr..
George Morrison, Of the Scotch Col
lege, Greelong, Victoria, says the
London Times, is young man whose
love of exploration and adventures
has led him thus early in life to un-
dertake long rambles in the back
country of the colonies. Several
years ago he determined to devote
his vacation to q walk from Queens
cliffe, some forty miles south of Mel
bourne, on the western shores of
Port Philip,to Adelaide, the capital of
the adjacent colony of South Austria
liza. This journey he accomplished
apparently without much difficulty.
and his success nerving him to great
err efforts he planned a still longer
walk. He determined to cross the
continent fro n north to south, start
inc from the shores of the Gulf of
Carpentaria, and making Melbourne
his goal-a similar journey to that
undertaken by Burke and Willis. ex-
cept that his starting point was the
northern instead Of the southern
shores of the continent.
He set out from Normanton, on the
Gulf of Carpentaria, week before
Christmas, unaccompanled and un-
armed, and followed down the Dia-
mantina and Thomson rivers into
Central Australia. He struck the
BuIloo at Thargommdah and the Par
co at Hungerford North OF Thargo-
mindah he was caught by very heavy
rains, and the level country therea-
bouts was so flooded that for a dis
tance Of some 25O miles he had near
" as much swim ming and N7ading as
walking. These central plate aus are
occasionally subject to tremendous
floods, which extend as far as the eye
can reach, and, as a rule, put a COM
plete stop to locomotion. Even when
the waters have subsidized the country
is almost impossible owing to the
depth and holding character Of the
deposit Of black mud left behind,
which. however, is to certain ex-
tent of advantage to the squatter as
a fertilizer to the soil.
Mr.. Morrison crossed the river Oar
ling at Wilcannia, we'll known as one
Of the hottest places on thc globe, the
Lachlan at Booligal, the Murru,- -nbid-
gee at Hay, and the Murry at Echl,ca,
whence his route southwark lay
through a well.settled country. II 9
finally reached Melbourne in safety
after an adventurous walk of some
1000 miles, which occupied him 120
days. The fatigue he underwent
and the risks he ran IN the course of
this long, solitary excursion, can be
fully appreciated by those only who
know Central Australia, The jour
ney was made in the height of sum-
mer, when at places like Wilcannia
and Echucas it is by no means un-
common for the mercury to stand at
from 11O deg.to 120 deg.,in the shade.
North of the northern limits Of
Victoria the blacks are apt to show
hostility to exploring parties, and q
i man who ventures in this country
aICue and unarmed must be possess
Sd OIL uO SllldI1 stlilOIlllU VI
The brief report Of Mr.. Morrison
walk states that his rate Of travelling
; was much impeded by the heavy
weight he had to carry but it would
, be interesting to learn with wha
| store of provisions he commenced hi
, journey, as furnishing a guide t.
r those explore rers who have to econo
e mize space and weight as far as prac
4 tlceable. Mr.. Morrison's $ feat com
7 mands the admiration of all interest
d ed in exploration, and must be sc
down as one; Of the most remarkabi
:, of pedestrian achievements.
nj There is German superstitio
,r that the finger pointed at star wi
e certainly rot away, because the a.
d gels kill it, and the Ojibways wal
l. their children not to point at tt
j moon, telling them that if they d
1I. ill 1,;&ot bo;x &,oorc off