uth for two and a quarter miles to Bourne's Creek; 2.25 south and
by east for one and three-quarter mile; 2.50 south by west for one and a
quarter mile; 3.40 south-east for two and a half miles; 4.10 south and by
east for one and a half miles; 6.30 south-east for six and a quarter
miles to dry watercourse. Total distance seventeen and a quarter miles.

April 8.

We started for camp this morning and reached it in about eight and a half
miles. The country we saw in this journey in search of water, in the
direction of the river to the southwards, only wants a few showers to
make it look as fine pastoral country as can be found anywhere. Upon
examining my sextant I found the index error was 39 degrees 1 minute.
Before I reached the Gulf of Carpentaria it was damaged during the wreck
of a Firefly, and Lieutenant Woods kindly repaired it. I now meant to
adjust it and in doing so I was so unsuccessful as to make it useless. We
came this morning on the following course to camp: 8.40 west for four
miles; 9 north-west by west one mile to our outward track; 10.10 south
three and a half miles to camp.

April 9.

Jemmy and I left camp this morning, 9.5, in search of water on the route
we wanted to go. We went along the plains on the left bank of the river
in a south and west direction for eight miles. We expected to find in
that distance a well-watered river which Jemmy understood the blacks to
say formed the river a short distance below the camp. As we had not found
it there we went west and reached the river in about four and a half
miles. We then followed it down for about two miles in a southward
direction where we found the blacks we had seen up the river. Upon
telling them we had not found water back from the river, and that we now
wanted them to show us the road to the next river and would give them a
tomahawk and a shirt for doing so, they promised if we would bring our
party down the river they would do so. We saw here two old gins and a
little girl whom we had not seen before. One of the gins was a
disfigured-looking object; she had lost her nose and lips. The little
girl was about four years old; she had good features and was fat and
plump. To please the blacks we let one of the little boys ride a horse
for a short distance. After asking them to remain in this neighbourhood
we returned to camp.

April 10.

As I imagined, Gregory's party had traced the Thomson River to its head.
I did not suppose this river was it.