The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-04-14

lahed TO almost vanishing polht' anu
sometimes three years intervene De-
tween the tropical downpours. inc
country has at some period been COW
cred By showers OF volcanic ashes. sat
urated with water. and much OF this
sand has become cemented into desert
sandstone.
The sense OF solitude and desolatlon
that Expresses one IN these sand bills
Is most appalling From the time you
enter them you are dominated by the
one desire TO get out OF them. Many
poor fellow never has got out Of
them. but has periahed from thirst
with the exception Of the plaintiff vail
Of the dingo or the hum Of the ubiqui'
tous blow ny. absolute silence reigns
As far as the eye can reach In every
direction over the plains there Il moth
Ing 10 be seen but bare shining stones,
having a polished surface. from the
sand continually blowing over them
They are locally known a. "gibbers"
thard 81. As a traveller puts g. These
Flbbers are a geological feature 10 be
remembered. II we looked out TO the
horizon we looked over glhbors the
whole distance. We travelled all day
for weeks over gibbers. we slept at
night upon gIbbers. we even found
small portions Of gibbers 10 our food"
/ The MacDonnells are three parallel
ranges % mountains running east and
west and separated by narrow valleys,
/ the most remarkable % these. which
has been mapped by the explorer has
been named Horn Valley" The total
length OF this extraordinary valley is
/ 100 miles. and Il Is only 400 yards 10
width. Il Is Ranked on both sides by
rugged wall like ranges Of rock 100 TO
500 feet In height. The only passes are
the narrow rocky gorges through
which the waiercourses pass.
There are no permanent streams In
Central Australia. but IN times OF trop-
zeal rains immense volumes Of water
rush down from the barren hills The
/ Flnke river 10 the largest Of these water
courses: ii drains an immense area.
running north and south. and has many
important tributaries. One Of the ex.
traordinary features Of this country is
that the Finke river. taking lie rise
north OF the MacDonnells and running
southwark. lmpinges on the frst Of the
ranges running east and vest One
would expect that the river. on strik'
Ing this solid wall Of rock az a right
angle would be detected from iil
course. and would Gov along the FOO
OF the range. but not so. the mountain
chain Is rent asunder AZ this point ant
decp and rocky gorge Is formed. hav
ing walls o. bare rock over 1000 feet q
height between these river passes
some OF these cliffs are - nearly yer
teal that the sun hardly ever pene
trates into the gloomy depths Of thu
rorres. The river then crosses thI
sandy valley. and a Ike phenomenon
occurs The second mountain chain q
rcni asuuler in the same manner. an.
the river passes through 20 the thlr
raraIlel range. which again Is openo
for los escape on The south side. tn
Contra; Australian abor.ginc is the lly
irr rcprssentatIyo % stone age. VII
sim fashions bis spear heads an
knives from flint or sandstone. an
. pcff6rms the most daring surgica
oreratisns with them. His origin an
history are lost IN the gloomy mlsts O
the mast. Tie has no written record
and few oral traditions In appear
ancc he Is a naked. hlrsute sayag,
with a type OF features occasionally
pronounced Jewish. lie Is by natur
light hearted. merry, and prone {
LAUGHTER: a splendid mimic. supple
joinicd. with an uncrrlng hand tina
works In perfect unison with the ey,
which is keen as that % an eagle. II
has no private ownership Of land. n
cultlyates nothing. but lives entirol
on the spolls OF the chase. and althoug
] the thermometer frequently range
, from rs deg 90 over 30 deg. Fab
3 IN % hours. and his country Is teen
, Ing with furrcd game. he makes no Us
Of the skins for clothing. but zoe
about during the day and sleeps In N
open perfectly nude. lie builds n