The reader will recognize in the present explorer the Mr. McDouall Stuart, who accompanied Captain Sturt in his expedition to the Stony Desert in 1844-5, as draftsman. This experience of exploring, though a very severe initiation, seems to have inspired Mr. Stuart with a passion for discovery, and in 1858 this passion was gratified by the generous aid of his friend, Mr. William Finke, who furnished the means necessary to make an exploration of the country on the west side of Lake Torrens. He started from Mount Eyre, at the south-east corner of the lake, and crossing its southern extremity somewhere about Sleep's Crossing, turned his face northwards. He was at Oratunga, the head station of Mr. John Chambers, on the 14th of May. Leaving there with only six horses, one white man, Foster, and a native. Mr. Barker accompanied him on this outset, and they arrived at Aroona the same evening. Stopping at different stations, on the 19th they were at Mr. Sleeps', who informed them that Mr. Campbell, who had been endeavouring to penetrate into the west, had returned for want of water. It was not till the 10th of June, that Mr. Stuart could be said to have made his actual start, which he did from Ootaina, still not far from Mount Eyre.