Explorations in Australia | Page 4

King, Billiatt, Frew, Nash,
McGorrerey, and Waterhouse, 100 pounds each. Perhaps this is the
most fitting place to express Mr. Stuart's appreciation of the honour
done him by the Royal Geographical Society of London, in awarding
him their gold medal and presenting him with a gold watch. He wishes
particularly to express his hearty thanks to Sir Roderick Murchison,
and the other distinguished members of the society, for the lively
interest they have evinced in his welfare.
Mr. Stuart's experiences have led him to form a very decided opinion as

to the cause of the well-known hot winds of Australia, so long the
subject of scientific speculation. North and north-west of Flinders
Range are large plains covered with stones, extending as far as latitude
25 degrees. To the north of that, although the sun was intensely hot,
there were no hot winds; in fact from that parallel of latitude to the
Indian Ocean, either going or returning, they were not met with. "On
reaching latitude 27 degrees on my return," writes Mr. Stuart, "I found
the hot winds prevailing again as on my outward journey. I saw no
sandy desert to which these hot winds have been attributed, but, on
lifting some of the stones that were lying on the surface,* I found them
so hot that I was obliged to drop them immediately. (* On the surface,
as I suppose, of the large plains North of Flinders Range. ED.) It is my
opinion that when a north wind blows across those stone-covered plains,
it collects the heat from them, and the air, becoming rarified, is driven
on southwards with increased vehemence. To the north of latitude 25
degrees, although exposure to the sun in the middle of the day was very
oppressive, yet the moment we got under the shade of a tree we felt
quite alive again; there was none of that languid feeling which is
experienced in the south during a hot wind, as for example that which
blew on the morning after reaching the Hamilton,* in latitude 26
degrees 40 minutes. (* Journal 1861 to 1862.) That was one of the
hottest winds I ever experienced. I had the horses brought up at 7
o'clock, intending to proceed, but seeing there was a very hot wind
coming on, I had them turned out again. It was well I did so, for before
10 o'clock all the horses were in small groups under the trees, and the
men lying under the shade of blankets unable to do anything, so
overpowering was the heat." Unfortunately, Mr. Stuart had no
thermometer.
Mr. Stuart is anxious to direct attention to the establishment of a
Telegraph line along his route. On this subject he writes as follows:--
"On my arrival in Adelaide from my last journey I found a great deal of
anxiety felt as to whether a line could be carried across to the mouth of
the Adelaide river. There would be a few difficulties in the way, but
none which could not be overcome and made to repay the cost of such
an undertaking. The first would be in crossing from Mr. Glen's station
to Chambers Creek, in finding timber sufficiently long for poles,
supposing that no more favourable line than I travelled over could be

adopted, but I have good reason for supposing that there is plenty of
suitable timber in the range and creek, not more than ten miles off my
track: the distance between the two places is one hundred miles. From
Chambers Creek through the spring country to the Gap in Hanson
Range the cartage would be a little farther, in consequence of the
timber being scarce in some places. There are many creeks in which it
would be found, but I had not time to examine them in detail. Another
difficulty would be in crossing the McDonnell Range, which is rough
and ragged, but there is a great quantity of timber in the Hugh; the
distance to this in a straight line is not more than seven miles; from
thence to the Roper River there are a few places where the cartage
might be from ten to twenty miles, that is in crossing the plains where
only stunted gum-trees grow, but tall timber can be obtained from the
rising ground around them. From latitude 16 degrees 30 minutes south
to the north coast, there would be no difficulty whatever, as there is an
abundance of timber everywhere. I am promised information, through
the kindness of Mr. Todd, of the Telegraph department, as to the
average cost of establishing the lines through the outer districts of this
colony, and it is my intention to make a calculation of the cost of a line
on my route, by which the comparative merits and expense will be
tested, and