The character of the country is an open stony plateau, upon which lines of hills or ranges rise; it is intersected by numerous watercourses, all trending to Lake Eyre, and was an excellent cattle run.

The South Australian Government erected the telegraph station in the immediate vicinity of the cattle station.

When the cattle station was first formed in 1862 the natives were very numerous and very hostile, but at the time of my visit, ten years later, they were comparatively civilised.

At the Peake we were enabled to re-shoe all our horses, for the stony road up from Port Augusta had worn out all that were put on there.

I also had an extra set fitted for each horse, rolled up in calico, and marked with its name.