e presents which
pleased them most were a broad file, a needle and thread, a broken glass
bottle, and clothes. The file they could make a better tomahawk of than
their stone ones; the broken glass bottle they would use for knives or
wood scrapers. We did not give them many clothes as cold weather had
warned us we had none to spare. Jemmy, on further acquaintance with the
blacks, found they could speak a language he understood.

April 7. Bowen Downs.

We left 44 Camp at 7.20. When we had gone about one and three-quarter
miles south Jackey and I waited behind to take an observation of the sun.
I made its meridian altitude A.H. 118 degrees 12 minutes (I did not take
notice of the index error) the latitude is by that observation. This
morning the blacks told Jemmy of a well-watered road leading to the
southward. On that river they said the blacks had clothes and it was from
them they got their iron tomahawks. When we had come about one and
three-quarter miles Jackey and I remained behind the others. Before the
party left I told Mr. Bourne to let Jemmy lead in the direction that the
blacks had pointed out to him. After making an observation of the sun we
followed the tracks of our party. When we had ridden a short distance
over undulating country we reached plains. Further on we crossed a creek
which, although now dry, had evident signs of being well watered in good
seasons. The holes were deep and mussel shells were abundant on its
banks. I named it Bourne Creek. The party, after going up the creek for
some distance, went in a straight course to the south-east; when Jackey
and I overtook them we learned that Jemmy was leading the way to some
smoke they had seen in the distance. After steering in that course we
reached at dark a water channel but, as there was no water in it, I told
Fisherman and Jemmy to guide us back to our last camp. After travelling a
considerable distance, and when I thought we ought to be near our camp, I
ascertained our guides had not the slightest idea of our situation. As I
had been misled by them, and had paid no attention to the route we had
come, I was rather at a loss which way to go. I judged however that the
horses would take us to the river, so let them go their own way. At 4 in
the morning, when we had travelled for some time in a north-east
direction, we stopped and tied up the horses till 7.10. Yesterday we went
in the following courses: 11.35 south for one and three-quarter mile;
1.49 so