y disappearing. Changed course to west for a high sand
ridge, which I reached in one hour and a half, and continuing in
the same direction to one still higher, obtained from it a good
view of the surrounding country. To the north were the extensive
box forests bounding the creek on either side. To the east earthy
plains intersected by watercourses and lines of timber, and bounded
in the distance by sand ridges. To the south the projection of the
sand ridge partially intercepted the view; the rest was composed of
earthy plains, apparently clothed with chrysanthemums. To the
westward another but smaller plain was bounded also by high sand
ridges running nearly parallel with the one on which I was
standing. This dreary prospect offering no encouragement to
proceed, I returned to Camp 10 by a more direct and better route
than I had come, passing over some good salt-bush land which
borders on the billibongs to the westward.--[Here follow some
meteorological notes.]

From Camp 10 back to 9.

Monday, 6th May, 1861.--Moved up the creek again to Camp 9, at the
junction, to breakfast, and remained the day there. The present
state of things is not calculated to raise our spirits much; the
rations are rapidly diminishing; our clothing, especially the
boots, are all going to pieces, and we have not the materials for
repairing them properly; the camel is completely done up and can
scarcely get along, although he has the best of feed and is resting
half his time. I suppose this will end in our having to live like
the blacks for a few months.

From Camp 9.

Tuesday, 7th May, 1861.--Breakfasted at daylight; but when about to
start, found that the camel would not rise even without any load on
his back. After making every attempt to get him up, we were obliged
to leave him to himself.

Mr. Burke and I started down the creek to reconnoitre; at about
eleven miles we came to some blacks fishing; they gave us some
half-a-dozen fish each, for luncheon, and intimated that if we
would go to their camp we should have some more and some bread. I
tore in two a piece of macintosh stuff that I had, and Mr. Burke
gave one piece and I the other. We then went on to their camp about
three miles further. They had caught a considerable quantity of
fish, but most of them were small. I noticed three different kinds;
a small one that they call Cupi, from five to six inches long, and
not broader than an eel; the common one, with large coarse scales,
t