derable depth. The banks
were very steep, and a belt of scrub lined it on either side. This
made it very inconvenient for travelling, especially as the bed of
the creek was full of water for a considerable distance. At eleven
A.M., we halted, until 1.30 P.M., and then moved on again taking a
south-south-westerly course for about two miles, when at the end of
a very long waterhole it breaks into billibongs, which continue
splitting into sandy channels until they are all lost in the earthy
soil of a box forest. Seeing little chance of water ahead, we
turned back to the end of the long waterhole and camped for the
night. On our way back, Rajah showed signs of being done up. He had
been trembling greatly all the morning. On this account his load
was further lightened to the amount of a few pounds by the doing
away with the sugar, ginger, tea, cocoa, and two or three tin
plates.--To Camp 8.

From Camp 8.

Friday, 3rd May, 1861.--Started at seven A.M., striking off in a
northerly direction for the main creek. At a mile and a-half came
to a branch which--[Left unfinished].--To Camp 9.

Junction.--From Camp 9.

Saturday, 4th May, 1861.--Night and morning very cold. Sky clear,
almost calm, occasionally a light breath of air from south. Rajah
appears to feel the cold very much. He was so stiff this morning as
to be scarcely able to get up with his load. Started to return down
the creek at 6.45, and halted for breakfast at 9 A.M., at the same
spot as we breakfasted at yesterday. Proceeding from there down the
creek we soon found a repetition of the features that were
exhibited by the creek examined on Thursday. At a mile and a-half
we came to the last waterhole, and below that the channel became
more sandy and shallow, and continued to send off billibongs to the
south and west, slightly changing its course each time until it
disappeared altogether in a north-westerly direction. Leaving King
with the camel, we went on a mile or two to see if we could find
water; and being unsuccessful we were obliged to return to where we
had breakfasted as being the best place for feed and water.--To
Camp 10.

Sunday, 5th May, 1861.--Started by myself, to reconnoitre the
country in a southerly direction, leaving Mr. Burke and King with
the camel at Camp 10. Travelled south-west by south for two hours,
following the course of the most southerly billibongs; found the
earthy soil becoming more loose and cracked up, and the box track
graduall