CHAPTER V.
BREAK UP THE ENCAMPMENT--ARRIVE AT DEPOT POOL--GEOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY--BAROMETERS OUT OF ORDER--ADVANCE TO RECONNOITRE--ASCEND TERMINATION HILL--SURPRISE NATIVE WOMEN--THEY ABANDON THEIR CHILDREN--INEFFECTUAL SEARCH FOR WATER--RETURN TOWARDS MOUNT DECEPTION--BROKEN CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY--FIND WATER--THE SCOTT--REJOIN THE PARTY--WATER ALL USED AT DEPOT--EMBARRASSING CIRCUMSTANCES--REMOVE TO THE SCOTT--RECONNOITRE IN ADVANCE--BARREN COUNTRY--TABLE TOPPED ELEVATIONS--INDICATIONS OF THE VIOLENT ACTION OF WATER--MEET NATIVES--REACH LAKE TORRENS--THE WATER SALT--OBLIGED TO RETURN--ARRIVAL AT DEPOT--HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE NATIVES.
July 25 .-- To-DAY we broke up the camp, and commenced our labours in earnest, the men and the horses having had a rest of three weeks; the latter were in splendid condition and spirits, having eaten twenty-five bushels of oats, which had been sent up in the WATERWITCH.

Every thing had been well and conveniently arranged, and the whole moved on with an order and regularity that was very gratifying.
I was very ill at starting, and remained so for some days after, but as I had already been twice over the ground, and as my native boy was able to act as guide to the party, my indisposition was not of so much consequence as it would have been under other circumstances.

At times I was quite incapable of any exertion, and could not attend to any thing, being hardly able to sit upon my horse for half an hour together.

From the 25th to the evening of the 30th, we were engaged in travelling from Mount Arden to Depot Pool, by the same line of route by which myself and the native boy had returned from our exploration.

In our progress we noticed many traces of natives around us, and saw many native fires among the hills; the people themselves did not, however, appear.
By a little trouble in examining the watercourses before encamping, we were generally able to procure water for our horses, at some distance among the hills; and we were usually fortunate enough to obtain tolerable food for them also.