e traced the dark line of creek
timber. At twelve o'clock we camped in the bed of the creek at
camp--, our last camp on the road down from the Gulf, having taken
four days to do what we then did in one. This comparative rest and
the change in diet have also worked wonders, however; the leg-tied
feeling is now entirely gone, and I believe that in less than a
week we shall be fit to undergo any fatigue whatever. The camels
are improving, and seem capable of doing all that we are likely to
require of them.--To Camp 4.

From Camp 4.

Saturday, 27th April, 1861.--First part of night clear, with a
light breeze from south. Temperature at midnight 10 degrees
(Reaumur). Towards morning there were a few cirrocumulus clouds
passing over north-east to south-west, but these disappeared before
daylight. At five A.M. the temperature was 7.5 degrees (Reaumur).
We started at six o'clock, and following the native path, which at
about a mile from our camp takes a southerly direction, we soon
came to the high sandy alluvial deposit which separates the creek
at this point from the stony rises. Here we struck off from the
path, keeping well to the south of the creek, in order that we
might mess in a branch of it that took a southerly direction. At 9.
20 we came in on the creek again where it runs due south, and
halted for breakfast at a fine waterhole with fine fresh feed for
the camels. Here we remained until noon, when we moved on again,
and camped at one o'clock on a general course, having been
throughout the morning south-west eight miles. The weather is most
agreeable and pleasant; nothing could be more favourable for us up
to the present time. The temperature in the shade at 10.30 A.M. was
17.5 degrees (Reaumur), with a light breeze from south and a few
small cirrocumulus clouds towards the north. I greatly feel the
want of more instruments, the only things I have left being my
watch, prism compass, pocket compass, and one thermometer
(Reaumur).--To Camp 5.

From Camp 5.

Sunday, 28th April, 1861.--Morning fine and calm, but rather
chilly. Started at 4.45 A.M., following down the bed of a creek in
a westerly direction by moonlight. Our stage was, however, very
short for about a mile--one of the camels (Landa) got bogged by the
side of a waterhole, and although we tried every means in our
power, we found it impossible to get him out. All the ground
beneath the surface was a bottomless quicksand, through which the
beast sank too