EXPLORATION OF THE FAR WEST OF AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6503, 30 December 1881, Page 6

EXPLORATION OF THE FAR WEST OF AUSTRALIA.

(Batfiimf Trsaet.) From Mr J. E. Palmer, who has recently returned from a trip up the country, in which he went to the distance of 130 miles beyond Cooper’s Creek, the watercourse in the vicinity of which Burke and Wills met with their death in the early dayrof Australian exploration, we learn some interesting particulars of the comparatively little known country of the For Wwt. About Cooper’s Creek the country is looking splendid from the effects of rains farther north, which have ml the Bzreoo end Thompson rivers running strongly. These streams empty themselves Into Coops/* Creek, and the country on both sides of it being very low, it bss been tboiouglr to undated. The* result hoi been on abundant growth of grass and herbage, oUhongb no tala has Mien is that particular locality. The country being quite fist, and destitute of hills, the floods extend for miles whenever they occur, and lay the whole face of it under water. The waters having retired at tho time of my tofomont’e visit, the blacks of tbe district hod com* oo to the phdos looking for various edible seeds and grasses. Cue of the former is known as the "nardoo," which is tbe eeed of a shrub resembling a lupin, soother seed is called tbe “parpa," ami, like the catdoo, is damped, crushed between stones, and baked is toe same manner ss bread. A description of grass, about the height of lucerne, is also eaten by toe blacks. They do no discredit physically to food of such ea apparently meagre nature, for the men are strozg end robust j but they are also very stupid, and of dirty and repulsive appetMuos. This boars out the dictum of the roodera epicurean, who says that u men who eat nothing hot rie* become fit to do nothing but to grow rice." By to# earn* rule wc suppose men who sat grans become fit for nothing bus to wateh.it grow. The gins have a custom of knocking out their front teeth, whbh, combined with Other disadvantage* of complexion, face and figure that they are net rtspmiihk for, makss them took dreadfully hideous. Throe blacks mm approciste some of the luxuries of rirdmtion,however, for they will carry a teller ISO mite* for, a bit of tobacco, Th# (rite* inhabiting the Herbert are a much finer race of men, who*# appearance is eohanced by their Jong hrards, whilst that of the Gropers Creek Black* Is disfigured by their immense "shock" beads of hair. The country around Genoatwr Is suffering from drought, and Messrs Alison Brothers, large toe?pawners in that locality, are reported to have lost thousand* of sheep, tome soy 100,009, from scarcity <1 gram and water, Th# - unfortunate animate , were so weak that it was impossible to drive them into the head station, and at shearing time it was found ntafMary to shear them in Use bush whererfl*,. they could b# ■ found. Mr Palmer shlwsd as- some •tones of very striking ajmcaraoco which were obtained Irj the Warreyo River, on a ran of Mr Tjsoo's named Tinenhurre. 650 mites from Bathurst. The stew* are a vivid colour, and bear a brilliant polish almost resembling cornelian or j asper. Rome of them are wmi-transparsnt, wad others of a dork red or brown colour. The degree of polish communicated to them by mere SrkUm in th# bed of tbe river points to great hardness i acd firmness of grain, and pomihly to tits i exigence of precious stones In the neighbour* 1 hood. H will be remainbtred that a few years ago opals were found on toe Baton, which is a tributary of Gosper's Greek. Some of lb* specimens exhibited to ns consist of a white stone membliog marble, which, when i placed on the fire, crumbles and bums away. The latter spedimsss were obtained In the vieioity of Cooper’* Creel, fully 1200 mites ’ from Stthurrt. The whale of the country is

Mna up and stocked, wad we hope tbit espsrisflto. energy, sisd eaterorlio combhmt, will pravanttho repetition of those disasters to tin toll mi teds of the iettim which have Attended previous effort* In stock the vast mi often Arid plaint of (lie interior.