ollowing morning we lost its
channel on an extensive plain, and therefore continued our journey to the
westward. At seven miles we entered a dense scrub, and at fifteen
ascended a sand hill, from which we expected to have had a more than
usually extensive view, but it was limited to the next sand hill, nor was
there the slightest prospect of a change of country being at hand. At
four miles from this position we came upon a second creek seemingly from
the N.E., whose appearance raised our hopes of obtaining water; but as
its channel became sandy, and turned southwards, I left it, and once more
running on our old course, pulled up at sunset under a bank of sand,
without anything either for ourselves or our horses to drink. During the
latter part of the evening we had observed a good deal of grass on the
sand hills, nor was there any deficiency of it round our bivouac; but,
notwithstanding that there was more than enough for the few horses we
had, a herd of cattle would have discussed the whole in a night. It was
evident from the state of the ground that no rain had fallen hereabouts,
and I consequently began to doubt whether it had extended beyond the
mountains. Comparing the appearance of the country we were in, with that
through which Mr. Browne passed for 50 miles before he came upon Lake
Torrens, and concluding that some such similar change would have taken
place here if we had approached within any reasonable distance of that
basin, I could not but apprehend that we were still a long way from it.

The horses having refused the water we had found in the creek, I could
hardly expect they would drink it on their return, so that I calculated
our distance from water at about 68 miles; and I foresaw that unless we
should succeed in finding some early in the day following, it would be
necessary for us to make for the Depot again. Close to where we stopped
there was a large burrow of Talperos, an animal, as I have observed,
similar to the rabbit in its habits, and one of which the natives are
very fond, as food. The sandy ridges appeared to be full of them, and
other animals, that must live for many months at a time without water.
Whilst we were sitting in the dusk near our fire, two beautiful parrots
attracted by it, I suppose, pitched close to us; but immediately took
wing again, and flew away to the N.W. They, no doubt, thought that we
were near water, but like ourselves were doomed to disappointment. During
the evening al