the Government; they may do so if they like, but they cannot hope to get anything for it in return.  My old mate, Luck, not only surveyed, roughly but accurately, a track between Southern Cross and Menzies, a distance of nearly 150 miles, but actually cut the scrub for a part of the way, to allow his camels to pass; shortly after a Government road was to be cut between the two towns, and Luck sent in his map, at the suggestion of the then head official of the Water Supply, with an application for monetary reward for his work.  His request was refused, his map never returned, and strangely enough the new road followed his traverse from water to water with startling exactitude.  Who was to blame I cannot say; but someone must be in fault when a man, both able and willing to do such useful work is not only neglected, but to all intents and purposes robbed.  This is not the only instance of the apathy of the Government in such matters, but is a sufficient example of the lack of encouragement with which prospectors meet.

CHAPTER II

MEMBERS AND EQUIPMENT OF EXPEDITION

The most important question in the organisation of an expedition of long duration is the choice of one’s companions.  Many men are excellent fellows in civilisation and exactly the reverse in the bush, and, similarly, some of the best men for bush work are quite unfitted for civilised life.  I was therefore grievously disappointed when I heard the decision of my late partners not to accompany me.  Dave Wilson thought it unwise to come because his health was poor and his blood completely out of order, as evinced by the painful sores due to what is termed “the Barcoo Rot.”  This disease is very common in the bush, where no vegetables or change of food can be obtained, and must be something akin to scurvy.  It is usually accompanied by retching and vomiting following every attempt to eat.  The sufferer invariably has a voracious appetite, but what he eats is of little benefit to him.  The skin becomes very tender and soft, and the slightest knock or scratch, even a touch sometimes, causes a wound which gradually spreads in all directions.  The back of the hand is the usual spot to be first affected, then the arms, and in a bad case the legs also, which become puffy at the joints, and before long the wretched victim will be covered with sores and abrasions.  No external application of ointment or anything of that nature seems to do any good, though the wounds are deep and leave but little scar.  After a month or two in the bush one is pretty sure to develop this complaint, which in the dusty, hot weather is further aggravated by the swarms of flies, whose poisonous nature is made evident to any one who has killed them.  In my own case I have found fine white wood-ashes, preferably of the mulga, to have a healing and drying effect.  Ashes are used by the natives for healing wounds, and I found them very efficacious in cases of sore backs amongst camels.  Nothing but an entire change of diet and way of living can cure the “Barcoo”; constant washing, an impossibility “out-back,” being essential.  Dave, having had his sickness for some long time, was physically unable to form one of the party, to my sorrow, for he was a man in whom I had the greatest confidence, and one whose pluck and endurance were unquestionable.