All these places were boggy and impassable for horses.

In attempting to cross one a horse sunk up to his haunches, and we had much difficulty in extricating him.

At five miles from our camp we ascended some high ridges of an oolitic limestone formation, which were partially covered by drift-sand, and in the distance looked like the ridge of a sea shore.

From their summit Cape le Grand bore E.27 degrees S., the peak called by the French the "Chapeau," E.23 degrees S., and the head of the salt-water lake E.10 degrees S.We had now a succession of barren, sandy and stony ridges for more than three miles, and as there was but little prospect of our finding permanent water in such a miserable region, I took the opportunity of halting at a little rain water deposited in a hole of the rocks; here we procured enough for ourselves, but could not obtain any for the horses.

Our camp not being far from the coast, I walked after dinner to the sand-hills to take bearings.