would strike camp
again. This was the Depot Glen, and an extract from Sturt's journal
depicts the situation of the party:--

"It was not, however, until after we had run down every creek in the
neighbourhood, and had traversed the country in every direction, that the
truth flashed across my mind, and it became evident to me that we were
locked up in the desolate and heated region into which we had penetrated,
as effectually as if we had wintered at the Pole. It was long, indeed,
ere I could bring myself to believe that so great a misfortune had
overtaken us, but so it was. Providence had, in its all wise purposes,
guided us to the only spot in that wide-spread desert where our wants
could have been permanently supplied, but had there stayed our further
progress into a region that almost appears to be forbidden ground."

This then was Sturt's prison -- a small creek marked by a line of gum
trees, issuing from a glen in a low range. By a kindly freak of nature,
enough water had been confined in this glen to provide a permanent supply
for the exploring party and their animals, during the long term of their
detention.

Of Sturt's existence and occupation during this dreary period little can
be said. He tried to find an avenue of escape in every direction, until
convinced of the futility of the attempt; sometimes encouraged and lured
on by the shallow pools in some fragmentary creek, at others, seeing
nothing before him but hopeless aridity. Now, too, he found himself
attacked with what he then thought to be rheumatism, but which proved to
be scurvy. Poole and Browne were afflicted in the same manner.

Sturt made one desperate attempt to the north during his imprisonment in
the Depot Glen, and succeeded in reaching a point one mile beyond the
28th parallel, but further north he could not advance, nor did he find
any inducement to risk the safety of his party.

There passed weeks of awesome monotony, relieved by one strange episode.
From the apparently lifeless wilderness around them there strayed an old
aboriginal into their camp. He was hungry and athirst, and in complete
keeping with the gaunt waste from which he had emerged. The dogs attacked
him when he approached, but he stood his ground and fought them valiantly
until they were called off. His whole demeanour was calm and courageous,
and he showed neither surprise nor timidity. He drank greedily when water
was given to him, ate voraciously, and accepted every serv