On the 30th we followed down the creek until it bore too much to the West, and so far as we could see shortly ran out into the sand.  From a high sandhill the next morning we got an extensive view.  To the East, the main body of a long salt-lake extending as far as the eye can see to the S.S.E.  Bounding the lake on the East is a high sandstone tableland, with abrupt cliffs facing the lake.  Some eight miles to the North-East appears to be the extreme point of the lake, but of course from a distance it is impossible to say for certain.  Except where the cliffs occur, the lake is enclosed by high red sandhills, through which it winds its way like a strip of sparkling white tinsel.  Having no desire to court difficulties, I turned from this smooth-faced but treacherous bog, and, looking West, spied a fine bold range, a rugged-looking affair with peaks, bluffs, and pinnacles, suggesting gorges and water.  I have no doubt that this lake is Lake White, of Warburton’s, though my position for it is seventeen miles East of that assigned to it by him.  It is in the same latitude, and agrees with Warburton’s description as to the cliffs and sandhills.

After sighting this lake we turned West to the ranges, therefore had two lakes existed in this latitude we must have crossed the second, which we did not do.  Many things go to prove that Warburton’s positions are incorrect; I think I can show how, by moving his route bodily on the chart about eighteen miles to the East, a more accurate map will result.  My own experience alone would not be conclusive, except that my work fits in with that of Forrest, Gregory, and Tietkens, where my route crosses theirs; but taken in conjunction with others it proves of value.  In crossing the Colony, Warburton failed to connect with Gregory’s traverse at the end of the Sturt as he intended, and on approaching his destination (the Oakover River) expressed surprise that he had not reached it a day or two before.  Therefore he was not confident of the accuracy of his reckoning.

Two parties, one led by Mr. Buchanan, a noted bushman, another by Mr. Smith, set out from the end of the Sturt to cross the desert, made several unsuccessful attempts to locate some waters of Warburton’s, though no distance away, and returned satisfied that nothing could be gained by further travelling.  Mr. Smith told me that he had located “Bishop’s Dell,” but placed it due south of the Salt Sea instead of S.S.W, as shown by Warburton.

Mr. Wells eventually found Joanna Spring twenty miles East of Warburton’s position.  This correction is of greater value than any, since Mr. Wells is considered one of the best surveyors in the South Australian Service.

A combination of the above experiences shows, I think conclusively, that Colonel Warburton’s route, at least on the West Australian side of the boundary, should be shifted bodily eighteen or twenty miles to the Eastward.

Considering the hard trials that Colonel Warburton and his party went through, there is small wonder that he found great difficulty in keeping any sort of reckoning.