Expedition through South and Western Australia.

The telegram is dated from Esperance Bay, and as will be seen, reports the safe arrival of the expedition at the Fraser Ranges. The party left Adelaide on April 22, and the Peake Station some four or five days later. It consisted of Mr. D. Lindsay, the leader; Mr. F. W. Leech, second in command; Mr. L. A Wells, surveyor; Mr. Victor Streich, geologist, mineralogist, &c.; Mr. R. Helms, naturalist, entomologist, &c.; Messrs. A. P. Gwynne, and R. G. Ramsay, assistants; Dr. Elliott, medical officer, and Mr. Bowden, who was in charge of the camels and died shortly afterwards.

After some premiminary [sic] exploration on the South Australian border country, about the Tomkinson Ranges, they followed the track of Gosse, Giles, and Forrest, and travelled roughly speaking in a westerly direction, making Fort Mueller, Barlee Spring, and the Barrow Ranges, a distance of about 100 miles. Along this distance they had to depend on rock holes for water, all the known springs and other watering places being dry. They left the Barrow Ranges for Queen Victoria Springs —370 miles to the south- west—which yielded them only 60 gallons of water. Thence they pushed on to the Fraser Range, 130 miles further to the south west, whence Mr. Lindsay pushed on to Esperance Bay for the purpose of notifying the arrival of his party. As he states, the party performed the feat of travelling 550 miles in 34 days over a country suffering from drought. The lack of water was so great that each of the camels, he states, received only eight gallons of water during the entire journey of 550 miles, and therefore this small quantity lasted them the whole 34 days. The party will shortly start again, and will proceed to the Murchison, which Mr. Lindsay expects to each about the middle of December.

The following are the telegrams forwarded by Mr. Lindsay to the Administrator and the Premier:—

Esperance Bay, Oct. 14.
To His Excellency A. C. Onslow, Esq., Administrator.

I  have the honour on reaching first station in your colony to report the safe arrival of my party at Fraser Range, my camels having performed the unprecedented feat of travelling 550 miles in 34 days, from water to water, having only had 8 gallons each in that time. There has been prolonged drought over whole country from Tomkinson Ranges to here. Queen Victoria spring only yielded us sixty gallons.
(Sd.) DAVID LINDSAY,
Leader Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition,
Esperance Bay.

Esperance Bay, Oct. 14th, 1891.
To Sir John Forrest, K.C.M.G., M.L.A., Premier.

Allow me congratulate you on well deserved honour conferred by Her Majesty. We have had terribly dry trip, rock holes furnishing our only waters ; Fort Mueller, Barlee Springs, and all waters one hundred miles west dry. Country suffering from prolonged drought. Left Barrow Range for Queen Victoria spring, which was almost dry, yielding us only sixty gallons ; pushed on to Fraser Range; reached station on thirty fourth day; distance five hundred and fifty miles; camels only had eight gallons each during journey. All came through safely, and brought loading. Anticipate reaching Murchison middle December.
(Sd.) DAVID LINDSAY.
Leader of Elder's Scientific Exploring Expedition,
Esperance Bay.

ANOTHER TELEGRAM.

Last night we received the following telegram from our Adelaide correspondent:—
Mr. Arthur Lindsay, step-father to the explorer Mr. David Lindsay, has received a telegram from that gentleman, sent from a point on the coast of Western Australia, announcing the party are quite well. Mr. Lindsay travelled 550 miles without water. He had left his party in order to intercept the telegraph line and to communicate news. Further intelligence may be expected through the Geographical Society.


MR. LINDSAY'S OFFICIAL REPORT.

Shortly after the receipt of the foregoing telegram from our Adelaide correspondent we received another from the same source, giving Mr. Lindsay's official report to the President of the Geographical Society, of South Australia, as follows:—

Esperance Bay, October 14.
I have the honour to report that we reached Illbillie on June 2nd, where we were delayed by rains and lost camels. We next went in a westerly direction to the Tomkinson Range, where we got good water. We examined the country south to Tietken's track in 1875. Returned and continued westerly. Mr. Wells, our surveyor, took a flying trip south-westerly to latitude 28 deg. 15 min. Obtaining no water he proceeded to longitude 130 deg., latitude 27 deg. 15 min., and found many good hills, and also found rock holes. Mr. Wells took his flying trip south-west to latitude 28 degrees 20 mins. He found two good rock holes, and rejoined the caravan at Skirmish Hill, [Western Australia].

Blythe Range consisted only of a few detached granite diorite hills, with rock holes. The natives were few and friendly. The country now became terribly dry, and it was very difficult to find feed and water for the camels, for Mueller's and Barlee springs were dry.

Mr. Leech examined the country in Block B. No trace was found of Gibson, who was lost in Giles's expedition. I Searched westerly, through Warburton Range [Western Australia] for water, but was unsuccessful. Mr. Wells found a rock hole, containing three hundred gallons, a hundred and twenty miles south west Of Mt. Squires, [Western Australia] at which hill I fortunately found a [?] rock hole filled by a local shower, two months previously. The natives were numerous, and it was impossible to hold communication with them. I decided that Alexandra Spring must be dry, and sent for water 28 miles south, which filled all vessels and watered the camels.

We left at noon of Sunday, August 30th. Some of the camels were poor. On Tuesday, September 1st, camels had three gallons each from the troughs. On September 4th, 20 had 3 gallons from a rock hole. The natives attacked the wells, but without resorting to firearm,, we succeeded in establishing friendly relations by making them various presents. On September 7 we reached the rock hole discovered by Mr. Wells. A mob of natives were camped there. Only 90 gallons of water were left. We again succeeded in establishing friendly relations. Here only 30 camels had three gallons of water each. The weather was hot and the  camels were thirsty. The party was on an allowance of two quarts per man per diem. There were spinifex sandhills with sandstone ridges covered with mulga. Subsequently the weather got colder. The spinifex sandhills continued to Queen Victoria Spring, which we reached on September 23. One camel died from poison three miles back. The spring was dry. We sank a well 15 feet to the clay bed, but obtained only 60 gallons of water, which with 40 gallons from the casks was divided amongst the camels.

The weather was hot. We proceeded south westerly on September 25, for the Spring, and crossed the watercourse described by Newman. There was salt water there, but no sign of the spring in the locality marked on map. We went south easterly for rock hole, but getting no water turned Southerly for the Fraser Range. All country is suffering from a prolonged drought. Feed is very scarce and poor. The country consists of dense scrub and spinifex, and splendid mallee forests.

On October 3 we reached the station [Dempster's?], thus completing the journey of 550 miles in 34 days. The camels had only 8 gallons of water each. All the camels arrived safely, but are terribly weary and poor, and their feet are bleeding, and many of them are lame from spinifex and sticks. They must have at least three weeks rest. My intention was to proceed from Victoria Spring north latitude 27 degs. 30 min., then north- westerly to Forrest's tracks. This is impossible now, as owing to the drought I can place no dependence on finding any outside water and I cannot risk the camels undertaking a long and dry stage so soon.
(Signed) David Lindsay.

I propose going through Hampton Plains. If I find no water I shall go westerly, but if I find water I shall cross Giles's track at Ularring, and Forrest's at Mt. Ida to Hope's station Merari, via Cruickshank's station Anneen. From Windich Spring I shall go south-easterly to latitude 28, which will sufficiently complete the examination of Block A.

Please advise if you concur with this suggested route.

I left one the of Jemadar's camels with a sprained shoulder a Illbillis [sic]. One died at Barrow Range. The total loss of camels is three. The health of the party is extremely good. I am sending Mr. Gwynne to Adelaide in charge of specimens and photographs. He is physically unfit for this work. Hadji is also returning. Please send my old camel driver Joorak to the Murchison. I anticipate reaching Hope's about Christmas. I came here on horseback, and am returning on Monday.

The secretary has sent a telegram to Mr. Lindsay acknowledging the receipt of his message.