rocky ranges; spelled, watering the camels from 2.25 to 2.45 p.m., up to this eight and three-quarter miles further.  Commenced ascending another mass of similar rocky ranges; stopped at 3.40 two and a quarter miles further to look out a track to endeavour to get out of this awful place.  Started again at 4.55 p.m. after spelling one and a quarter hours, could not get the animals over.  Went back till 5.22 one mile on our track, or to sixteen and a half miles on bearing 100 degrees, to try another place, southerly and westerly along and over very rocky ranges till 6.15, about two miles on average bearing of 215 to 220 degrees.  Came to a small sandy creek, then another, where by digging we will be able to give the animals some water, there is plenty of feed; it has been a very distressing day for the poor brutes; distance sixteen and a half miles on course of 100 degrees, and two miles on 220 degrees; gave each of the animals from two to five buckets.  Although when first seen the little water that was visible did not exceed a quart with a few small dead fish about 1 1/2 inches long, but after digging and clearing away the sand we got sufficient for tonight and tomorrow morning.  It has been close and oppressive which has added to the distress of the horses and camels.  One of the latter, an old Indian, could hardly be persuaded to come along.  Very light rain commenced about dark or a little after, but I doubt whether it will come to anything; however it will damp the grass for the poor animals and make it more palatable.

Saturday, June 14.

Camp 17.  Only rained sufficient to damp the grass.  Still cloudy; not a breath of wind at daylight.  Craggy hills to commence the journey with this morning.  This sandy watercourse flows to west and south, a mere narrow channel, but it was of much service to us; we would have fared badly for the poor animals had we not fallen in with it, insignificant as it appears.  Our pack-bags got sadly torn yesterday with broken timber and rocks, all of which latter is sandstone.  We passed much splendid splitting timber on our way yesterday, stringy-bark and other trees I don’t know the names of, but useful timber.  Crossed the creek at 8.38 a.m. on bearing of south by east till 8.55 three-quarters mile; spelled looking out on top of hill sixteen minutes, then on east course chiefly; at 11.30 six miles south one mile from the hill I was making for yesterday.  Still on easterly course up and over a rugged and scrubby range till 2 p.m. about three and three-quarter miles.  Lost an hour in searching for one of the horses that bolted and kicked off all his load prior to this.  Boco (horse) obliged to be left behind.  Then about north-north-east descended a range very steep and rough, then spinifex precipices, sharp ledges of rocks and every roughness one could imagine for about two miles or thereabouts, chiefly in the creek, then creek bore about east by north to east-north-east which I followed till after dark about six and a half miles, altogether