basin, and evidently at some seasons bubbling over and filling the clay-pan which abuts on it on the Western side.  On the East side of the spring is an open space of sand; surrounding it and the clay-pan is a luxuriant growth of pig-face—­a finger-like plant, soft, squashy, and full of moisture, but salt; it is commonly seen on the margin of salt-lakes.  Beyond the pig-face, tussocks of grass and buck-bush, beyond that again a mass of ti-tree scrub extending to the foot of the sandhills.  On the inner slopes of these can be seen the crowning glory of the spot viz., an abundance of splendid green thistle (TRICHODESMA ZEYLANICUM), tall and juicy, growing amongst acacia and other bushes.  Outside this, beyond this area of perhaps four hundred yards in diameter, stretching away to the horizon, ridge upon ridge of desolate sand, black and begrimed by the ashes of recently burnt spinifex, from which the charred stumps of occasional gum trees point branchless to the sky.  What chance of finding such a place without the help of those natives to whom alone its existence was known?

The winds and storms of past years had filled in the basin with sand and leaves, and except for the extraordinary freshness and abundance of vegetation around it, its peculiar situation, and the absence of the usual accompaniments to rock-holes, such as heaps of sticks and stones which, having served their purpose of protecting the water from evaporation, have been removed and thrown aside by the natives, there was nothing at first sight to lead one to suppose that any further supply existed than was visible in this natural reservoir.  This small amount soon vanished down the throats of the thirsty camels; it was then that, having cleared out the sand and leaves, we discovered the small passage through which the spring rises.  By continual baling until all the camels were satisfied (and of this splendid spring water they drank a more than ordinary amount) we kept the water back to the mouth of the passage.  Within an hour or so of the watering of the last camel, the hole was again full to the brim, of the most crystal-clear water.  How we revelled in it!  What baths we had—­the first since we left Woodhouse Lagoon over seven weeks back!  What a joy this was, those only can understand who, like us, have been for weeks with no better wash than a mouthful of water squirted into the hands and so rubbed over the face.  Whenever possible Godfrey, who made our damper (bread), washed his hands in the corner of a dish, which was used by each in turn afterwards—­and at our work in the wells, a certain amount of dirt was washed off.  But to splash about with an unlimited number of buckets of water ready to hand, to be got by the simple dipping of a billy-can—­this was joy indeed!  This luxury we enjoyed from October 5th to October 10th, and every day the camels were brought to water, and with this and the green feed visibly fattened before our eyes.