They reached the creek in which I had erected the
pole, early on the following morning, and there found the paper of
instructions informing them of the removal of the camp to within a mile
of where they then were.
It was evident from the result of this excursion, and from the high
northerly point Mr. Poole had gained, that he had either struck the lower
part of the basin of Lake Torrens or some similar feature. It was at the
same time, however, clear that the country was not favourable for any
attempt to penetrate, since there was no surface water. I felt indeed
that it would be imprudent to venture with heavily loaded drays into such
a country; but although I found a westerly course as yet closed upon me,
I still hoped that we should find larger waters in the north-west
interior, from the fact of the immense number of bitterns, cranes, and
other aquatic birds, the party flushed in the neighbourhood of the lakes.
Whence could these birds (more numerous at this point than we ever
afterwards saw them) have come from? To what quarter do they go? They do
not frequent the Murray or the Darling in such numbers, neither do they
frequent the southern portion of the coast. If then they are not to be
found in those localities, what waters do they inhabit in the interior?
On the 4th I sent Flood to the north in search of water, directing him to
keep at a certain distance from the ranges, with especial instructions
not to proceed beyond 60 or 70 miles, but in the event of his finding
water within that distance to return immediately to the camp.
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