I find that my estimate for the average height of the sand-ridges is considerably lower than that of Colonel Warburton.  It is interesting, therefore, to compare his account of these ridges, though it must be remembered that Colonel Warburton was travelling on a westerly course, and we from our northerly direction only traversed country previously seen by him, for the short distance that our sight would command, at the point of intersection of our two tracks.  In an editorial note in his book we read:—­

“They varied considerably both in their size and in their distance from each other, but eighty feet may be regarded as an average in the former respect and three hundred yards in the latter.

“They ran parallel to each other in an East and West direction, so that while pursuing either of these courses the travellers kept in the valleys, formed by two of them, and got along without much exertion.  It was when it became necessary to cross them at a great angle that the strain on the camels proved severe, for on the slopes their feet sank deeply into the sand, and their labours were most distressing to witness.”

CHAPTER XI

FROM FAMILY WELL TO HELENA SPRING

On leaving Family Well it was suggested by Charlie and Godfrey that we should take one of our native friends with us.  No doubt this would have been the most sensible plan, and would have saved us much trouble.  However, I did not care to take either of the females, the sick man was evidently of no use to us, and it was pretty evident that the sound buck was the chief hunter, and that without him, the little tribe would be hard pressed to find food.  As we were not in absolute need of water for a few days to come, I decided to leave the family in quiet enjoyment of their accustomed surroundings.  I had now given up all hope of finding any other than desert country ahead of us, and had no longer any other purpose than that of traversing the region that lay between us and “white settlements” with as little harm to ourselves and our camels as care and caution could command.  Our course was now North-East, as it was necessary to make more easting to bring us near the longitude of Hall’s Creek.  We continued for three days on this course, the ridges running due East and West.  The usual vegetation was to be seen, relieved by occasional patches of a low, white plant having the scent of lavender.  This little plant grew chiefly on the southern slope of the ridges, and was seen by us in no other locality.  A specimen brought home by me was identified at Kew Gardens as a new variety of Dicrastylis, and has been named Dicrastylis CARNEGIEI.