ERNEST GILES’S EXPLORATION,

Globe, Volume III, Issue 290, 17 May 1875, Page 3

ERNEST GILES’S EXPLORATION,

The South Australian Register has been supplied by the Hon T. Elder, M.L.C., with the subjoined telegram, which he received from Mr Ernest Giles, the explorer, under date Finniss Springs, Thursday, 15th April. The telegram was wired from Strangways Springs on 17th April—“ Reached Finniss Springs from Fowler’s Bay last night. Was guided to Youldeh, which I formerly called Ooldea, by Mr T. P. Richards, police trooper of Fowler’s Bay, who, through the courtesy of Mr Hamilton, the Commissioner, was allowed to accompany me there. Youldeh lies 135 miles north-north-west from Fowler’s Bay. Mr Richards obtained for me a native guide, who knows the country some distance east from Youldeh. On 24th March left Youldeh, with Peter Nichols my cook, and the native guide (Jimmy), taking three riding horses and two camels. The guide took us first to Pylebung, an extraordinary native dam and a clay tank, with clay circular wall five feet' high round it. It is the most astonishing thing, considering that it is the work of .the aborigines. Pylebung was sixty-four miles nearly east-south-east from Youldeh. Thence .to Whitegin—a small rock-hole thirty miles further on the same course. Thence nearly north east we reached Wynbring, a fine rock-hole in the crevice of granite rock, which stands about 60 feet high, and is two or three acres perhaps in extent. Youldeh, Pylebung, Whitegin and Wynbring are all in the densest of dense scrubs, consisting of heavy red sandhills -with thick mallee, miilga, acacia, Gre- t villea, casuarina, hakea, and spinifex; the dead underbush so thick that the camels could scarcely move * along. Wynbring was 100 miles from Yquldeh, and lying 10 deg. south of east from it.- From here the guide knew the country no further, and declared that beyond ‘ this point' there was * nothing, nothing.’ Leaving Wynbring we came 220 miles through the most terrific scrubs, with an open streak of thirty miles between to a claypan with water in, and that saved us. The three horses died of thirst—one at 65 miles, one at 150, and the last at 168’miles. The camels carrying water, we gave the horses as much as possible till we were reduced to three pints. The heat was great, the thermometer day after day standing at 102 in the the shade. It was impossible to travel at night, as we should have left every eye on sticks in the scrub. The 220 miles stretch front W.yhbring to the claypan was done in eight days, the camels averaging twenty-eight miles per day. They are wonderful, awe-in-spiring, and marvellous creatures, I never praised God so much for anything before, and for such creatures I thank you and praise Him, Having found water our progress in was easy, each walking and riding by turns. I just touched upon the edge of Lake Torrens, From what T have seen I judge that there exists a vast desert of scrub of a triangular form, the - base of which is at or near the western shores of Lake Torrens, and the sides running northwesterly from the southern foot, and most probably west from the northern cone to an apex at no great distance from my starting-point, Youldeh, and I think a line north from Youldeh would pass through it in but a short distance. The way I came was nearly along its greatest length. It consists of two deserts, divided by a strip of open country about thirty miles broad. The western and denser one I have named Richards’s Desert, in gratitude to Mr Richards for his own and his native’s guidance; and the eastern one I have called Ross’s Desert, as it was that that baffled Mr John Ross, who got through the eastern, but never entered the larger western one. The mail has just arrived. lam much pleased to hear ofjTietkens joining me. I shall hasten tp Beltana, and am quite confident of the successful issue of the expedition.’