Monday, 17th November, The Lindsay. Started soon after sunrise, crossed
the Stevenson and the Ross; both quite dry. Proceeded across Bagot range
to the gum water-hole; that is also dry. Found a little rain water in one
of the small creeks, but not enough for all the horses. The day being
excessively hot, the journey very rough and stony, and many of them lame
from want of shoes, also it being near sundown, and there being a little
green grass about, I have camped. Wind variable.

Tuesday, 18th November, The Gums, Bagot Range. Started at 5.40 a.m. to
the large waterhole in the Hamilton; in about a mile found some rain
water, which I allowed the horses to drink. At 10 a.m. arrived at the
large water-hole, and found it very low indeed; a great number of dead
fish all round it. This must certainly be a very unprecedentedly dry
season indeed; this water-hole does not seem to have received any water
for the last two years. The water being old and stagnant, I am afraid
will make us ill; we have all already been suffering much from stagnant
waters we have been compelled to use. I, however, must give the horses a
day's rest to enable them to make the next and last push, nearly a
hundred miles, to the first springs. From the dryness of the season, I
scarcely expect to find water before I reach them, which will be a severe
trial for the horses, the weather being so extremely hot. I am still
suffering very much from the effect of the stagnant waters; they have
sent me back again nearly to my former state of weakness, and have
assisted in checking my recovery from the scurvy, which is now again
gaining ground upon me since I lost the vegetable food. The country being
now so dry, there having been no late rain, there is not a blade of grass
to be seen. Hot wind from the north. This is the first and only hot wind
I have felt during the whole journey from Mount Margaret to the
sea-coast, and back to this place. In the afternoon the sky became
overcast with heavy clouds. At sundown the wind changed to west, and blew
very strong till eleven o'clock p.m.; we then had a few drops of rain,
but not enough to moisten the surface of the ground; after this it became
calm, the clouds broken, and there was no more of it.

Wednesday, 19th November, The Hamilton. This morning still cloudy, but
excessively close and hot. I am glad that I resolved to remain here
to-day, for the poor horses would have felt it very much travelling over
the high and h