est to east, and crossed the desert with horses only.

[Illustration. Members of the Exploring Expedition, Geraldton to
Adelaide, 1874.
Standing, left to right: Tommy Pierre, Tommy Windich, James Kennedy,
James Sweeny.
Seated, left to right: Alexander Forrest (Second in Command), John
Forrest (In Command).]

On the 14th of April, 1874, Forrest left Yuin, then the border of
settlement on the Murchison, accompanied by his brother Alexander, two
white men, and two natives, to endeavour to cross the unknown stretch of
desert country that separated the colonies of eastern Australia from the
western settlements. Their route at first lay along the Murchison River,
following the upper course, which they found to run through well-grassed
country, available for either sheep or cattle. From the crest of the head
watershed they had a view of their future travelling-ground to the
eastward. It appeared level, with low elevations, but there was a lack of
conspicuous hills, which did not promise favourably for water-finding,
though good pasture might be obtainable.

For the next few days the party were dependent for water on occasional
springs and scanty clay-pans. On the 27th, when following down a creek,
they suddenly came upon a fine spring, apparently permanent, which is
described by Forrest in his journal as one of the best he had ever seen,
both the grass and other herbage around being of fine quality. This place
he named Windich Springs, after Tommy Windich, one of the blacks who had
now been with Forrest on three expeditions. To the north-west was a fine
range of hills, which he named the Carnarvon Range. On leaving this
oasis, the explorers found themselves in less attractive country;
spinifex and sand became more frequent features of the landscape, and the
occasional water-supply became precarious.

On the 2nd of June, Forrest discovered the spring which aided them so
greatly in their efforts to cross. This he called Weld Springs, and he
describes it as unlimited in supply, clear, fresh, and extending down its
gully for over twenty chains. At this relief camp they halted in order to
rest the horses.

On the 8th Forrest started on a scouting expedition ahead, taking only a
black boy with him. He fully anticipated finding water, for as yet they
had not reached a waterless region, and he left instructions for the rest
to follow in his tracks in a day's time. He was unfortunate in his
selection of a course, for it led them