he first 86 miles without water, there
being none in any other direction to the north of us. Even the large
sheet in the first creek, to which I proposed going, had fearfully
shrunk. But what gave me most uneasiness, was the reduced state of water
on which the men and animals depended. From a fine broad sheet it was now
confined within the limits of its own narrow channel, and I felt
satisfied that if I should be absent many weeks, Mr. Browne would be
obliged to abandon his position. Foreseeing this contingency, I arranged
with him that in the event of his finding it necessary to retire, he
should fall back on the little creek, near the old Depot. That before he
finally broke up the camp, he should dig a hole in some favourable part
of the creek into which the water he might leave would drain, so as to
insure on my return as much as possible, and we marked a tree under which
he was to bury a bottle, with a letter in it to inform me of his intended
movements. Nothing could have been more marked or more attentive than Mr.
Browne's manner to me, and I am sure he saw me mount my horse to depart
with sincere regret; but the interval between the conclusion of these
arrangements and the day fixed on to resume my labours soon passed over,
although I deferred it to the 9th, in consequence of Flood's assuring me
that the horses required the additional rest.

I had, indeed, been the more disposed to postpone the day of my
departure, because I hoped, from appearances, that rain would fall, but I
was disappointed. On the 6th it was very close, and heavy clouds passed
over us from the N.E., our rainy quarter, towards the Mount Serle ranges,
but still no rain fell on the depressed and devoted region in which we
were. At eight, however, it rained slightly for about a quarter of an
hour, and the horizon was black with storm clouds; all night heavy
thunder rolled in the distance, both to the west and east of us; my ear
caught that joyful sound as I laid on my mattress, and I fervently prayed
that it might be the precursor of a fall.

I could not but hope, that, in the ordinary course of events, to revive
and to support nature, the great Author of it would have blessed the
land, desert as it was, with moisture at last, but I listened in vain for
the pattering of rain, no drops, whether heavy or light, fell on my tent.
The morning of the 7th dawned fair and clear; the sun rose in unshrouded
splendour; and crossed the heavens on that day wi