The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-06
EXPLORING A BIG DESERT.
NEW AREAS IN TIE GREAT WASTE
OF VEST AUSTRALIA VISITED.

Tho CarneEie Party Roturns AFTER Thirteen
Months OF Hard ork-Abundnn Water
Found In n Cave Just ms tho Water supply
Gave out-ee High sand Hills In no Miles.
Tho Carnegie expedition, which for thirteen
months has been exploring the great desert OF
West Australia. has returned. Its journey CT.
tended from the woll-known mining town OF
Coolgardie. in the south-central part OF the prov.
ince, to the Kimberley gold mines in tho north.
west of the continent. 1t travorsed considcra.
bio territory not previously visited and made
some interesting discoveries.
Mr.. Carnegie fitted out and commanded the
expedition. He had three white assistants
black bov, eight baggage camels, and provisions
for six months. He started on July 8, 1896.
About 200 miles north of Coolgardie he entered
n part of the Great Victoria Desert, which no
white man had seen before. 1t was n most
desolate region, with no grass or other forage
for the camels. There were only ~spinifex,
acacia, and other dwarf shrubs in the way OF
vegetation. After fourteen days travelling
across this desert the water supply became 40
far reduced that only a half pint a day was al
lowed for each person. At last. when only two
gallons of water remained, the party met som,
natives, one of whom they caught and finally
induced to pilot them to a water source. lie
led them four miles away to a waterholc OF a 70
markable character.
twas. in fact, a limestone cave Of consider
able extent. At the surface was an opening
three feet in diameter, against which rested one
end of a stout pole about twenty feet long. the
other end resting on the floor of the cave. The
natives had placed 1t there to facilitate their
entrance and exit. Down the pole the white
men scrambled and found themselves in a
chamber Of considerable size, from which they
entered a passage, with sloping floor, about
twenty-five feet in length and so low that they
had to make their way on hands and knees. At
the other end Of the passage they reached n fine
brook with plenty of clear. cold water that gave
the expedition an ample supply. Mr.. Carnegie
named this water source Empress Soak"
Around the cave there was good fodder for
the camels, and SO they rested there for three
days. Then they went on over the desert To the
northeast, and when near Mount Worsnop they
were happy to run across q lagoon with fresh
water upon which numerous wild ducks and
other water fowl were swimming. The lagoon
had u circumference of about a mile and tho
water was from a foot and a half to five feet in
depth. The borders showed q fine growth OF
mulga. acacia. and bloodwood trees, and there
was a grass.ooyered meadow which gave much
delight to the camels. MIR. Carnegie named this
water source Woodhouse Lagoon. and at this in.
wiling spot they remained for three days.
Then they pushed north again over the iron.
mulga tree flourshes. They had an ample
water supply, and SO did, not suffer during ito
end Of this time they came to some wells used
by the natives. around which grew plenty Of
canels. Further north, on the west side Of tic
A sma,i w and Maria mbi rSSng &c. the they found anoths;
by the natives. All these discoveries Of water
In one OF the most irightful deserts of The
never kno D b adGes''h In the ee Esxt ten a9 days T they
found some areas that suggested marsh land.
but yielded very little water. Their supply be.
rnmn an short n 4 1nnt fhn than tNtnd thn A Ntan
ment of digging through the sand, a dificult
undertaking.. which occupied three days. ami
OF very dirty water after digging to a dcprh OF
thirty feet. They had met a number OF natives.
their camp in the hope that she would reveal
the source of their water supply. She would
The scarcity Of water and fodder continued
until the expedition had travelled as far north
Not antii they reached 10: 20 s south h'Y ALTITUDE
at last to n region with a thick growth OF scrub
where, however, they had the misfortune to lose
plants. Their troubles wero not over even when
they reached the well-watered, and grassy dis
orice oebween christmas Creek and the MAJ.
Stansmore. who accidentally shot himself az he
was getting ready to fire at a kangaroo. Not
fields. where they replenished their supplies.
on the return journey they traveller, for tho
to see If they could find u good route with SUI
hcient grass to be used for driving cattle from
the Kimberley district southward to the Cool.
gardle gold fields. They did not succeed in
II not more desolate than that along their north.
ern road. was more difficult to cross. for hey
were constantly ascending and descending high
sand hills, In n distance of ten miles they
crossed eighty-six OF these hills.
The chief result of their explorations is tho
evidence they obtained that tho most of the cen
tral part OF West Australia offers no prospect
OF good grazing lands or mineral resource. In
the centre of this great waste they found IL part
Or a saddle and an iron tent pin OF patterns lhat
nave not been in use for many years, and ihcy
believe that these objects are relics Of me
Leichardt expedition, which. nearly II half cen.
fury ago was swallowed up in the desert, ma "
this day nothing has been heard OF its fate,