An exceedingly hot day, wind north. On our way the
natives informed us that the natives we had left in the morning had
murdered the man said to be at the end of our day's stage. On some of the
ridges and on crossing a large flat creek I observed two new trees or
shrubs (they are both) from one I obtained some seeds like beans, and
rather a nice tree; the other, when large, at a distance looks like a
shea-oak, having a very dark butt and long, drooping, dark-green, narrow
leaves, and did not appear to have any seeds at present. Started at 7.17
till twenty-two minutes to 10, nine miles, on a bearing of from 100 to
105 degrees; at 8.18 sighted a large timbered creek, distant one mile,
for about seven miles, 360 to 140 degrees. At twenty-two minutes to 10
observed a large dry salt lake bearing 341 degrees, north-west arm 330
degrees, north arm 355 degrees, distance to extreme point of north bank
nine miles. Bullingani informed us that a large lake lay on a bearing of
110 degrees, some distance off, named Murri Murri Ando. At 10.15 started
on a fresh course of 64 degrees, crossing, 11.15, a small salt lake
rapidly drying up. At 11.30 altered course to 100 degrees; at twenty-five
minutes to 12 to ten minutes to 1 spelled on sandhill, waiting for the
camels, they feeling the effects of the steep sandhill. At nine minutes
past 1 altered course to 116 degrees; at 1.15 altered course to 161
degrees; at seven minutes to 2 changed to 47 degrees; and at 2.20 reached
Lake Kadhibaerri. Found plenty of water and watered the horses (the
camels some distance behind, quite unable to keep up) and at once
proceeded northward along the side of a large beautifully-timbered
grassed and clovered swamp (or creek about one and a half miles across)
to ascertain the fact as to the presence of a European, dead or alive,
and there found a grave rudely formed by the natives, evidently not one
of themselves, sufficient pains not having been taken, and from other
appearances at once set it down as the grave of a white, be he who he
may. Returned to lake to await the coming of the camels which was not
till about 5 p.m. Determined in the morning to have the grave opened and
ascertain its contents. Whilst I went to top of sandhills, looking round
me, Mr. Hodgkinson strayed a short distance to some old deserted native
huts a short distance off, and by and by returned bearing with him an old
flattened pint pot, no marks upon it--further evidence that it was a