.13 made three-quarters of a mile south-south-east,
passed the junction of two creeks, one from the east and one from the
west. At 12.45 made one mile north-west across a range to dry creek. From
the range we saw the river had a north-north-east course. At 1.9 made one
mile north-west up a barren, rocky, basaltic range to rich well-grassed
plains. At 1.33 made one mile north-west to a creek with empty deep
holes. At 2.10 made two miles north-west to Clifton Creek, where we had
breakfast, and started again at 3 up the Clifton Creek. At 3.15 made
three-quarters of a mile north-west up the creek to where we crossed to
left bank and left it. At 3.50 made one mile and three-quarters
north-west over a fine downs ridge covered with green grass. At 4.15 made
one mile north-north-west to outward track on right bank on the Pratt
Creek. At 4.45 made one and a quarter mile north-east and at 5 made
three-quarters of a mile north-east in the direction of Number 16 Camp.
At 5.9 made quarter of a mile north by east to creek. At 5.17 made
quarter of a mile north over a barren desert grass ridge. At 5.30 made
one mile and a half to Number 16 Camp. At 5.40 we left Number 16 Camp to
go two and a half miles south-west by south to where our companions had
formed Number 17 Camp in our absence.

Monday December 16. Camp Number 17. Situated on Pratt Creek.

At 8.15 left camp to go to the fine waterhole at the junction of a creek
from the west, which I have named Campbell's Creek, with Clifton Creek.
At 8.48 made one mile and a half south-west by south. At 9 made half a
mile south-south-west to tracks made, when Fisherman and I returned to
Number 17 Camp. At 9.45 made two miles south-east down to Clifton Creek.
At 10.10 made one mile south-east down the creek to where we formed our
18th camp. At the camp we had a severe thunderstorm which lasted for
about four hours. At the two previous camps Mr. Allison made observations
of the sun with the plains for a horizon, which were very satisfactory,
as the latitude obtained was nearly the same as that of my dead
reckoning, also nearly the same as the latitude made with the
observations of the stars Aldebaran and Castor with an artificial horizon
at Number 16 Camp. Observations taken at Camp 16: Aldebaran 19 degrees 14
minutes 21 seconds; ditto Castor 19 degrees 24 minutes 30 seconds; ditto
Sun 19 degrees 24 minutes 30 seconds; ditto dead reckoning 19 degrees 24
minutes. At Camp Number 17 about two mile