Friday, December 20.

Marked a tree on north bank MK (conjoined), Dec. 17, 18, 19, 1861.  Temperature at sunrise 78 degrees.  Sky completely overcast.  Found Frank asleep on duty and reprimanded him, when he became saucy and sulky and determined to return to settled districts.  Settled with him to date.  He was twelve weeks with us and received an order for 6 pounds, being the amount due to him at the rate of ten shillings per week.  Started and passed through flats till we came to a creek where we stopped for a short time; crossed creek to the margin of a lake bed containing some water.  Went north some distance to get round the lake to where the creek is dry.  This creek fills this lake—­Goonaidrangannie.  Camped on north-east end at 1 p.m.  There are a great number of natives here; the water appears very deep.  Mr. Hodgkinson swam out about 300 yards with a plumb-line and found the depth 10 1/4 feet; but further south and east it is much deeper.  This lake must be at times a great rendezvous for natives in extreme drought.  One of our best working bullocks, before he came ten miles, was killed by the heat although, after getting to camp at 1 p.m., the thermometer was tried and the greatest heat arrived at was 144 degrees.  I was not aware that the bullock was dead until the arrival of the cart later in the afternoon.  The driver, seeing he was much exhausted, had him and the one and the one yoked with him turned out of the team, and went on a short distance and sent back for them, however, shortly after, when the animal was found quite dead—­consequently we were unable to secure any of him for food as it would not keep; but at daylight in the morning I will send for his hide as it will be much needed.  He will be a serious loss to us out in such a country where we require a spare bullock to spell another occasionally.  A good deal of thunder and great indications for rain, but blows off with only a few drops; quite a hot wind and altogether has been a very disagreeable day.  Wind from north.

Saturday, December 21.

Started three men out to skin the bullock and bring in the hide.  Wind south; sky overcast but hardly expect rain.  Tree marked MK (conjoined), 20-12-61 on south side.  The men returned with the hide at 8.10 a.m.  The bullocks, after their distress of yesterday, were left unhobbled and have strayed to some distance, not having come up yet at this hour—­8.10 a.m.  Bullocks arrived, and we started at 10.20 a.m.  Camels and horses started at 12 o’clock.  Came through some splendid feed to another lake containing but very little water and that quite bitter.  Start for Moolionboorrana at 3 p.m., and arrived there at 5.53 p.m.  Distance about twelve and a half miles; first half distance was flooded flats and sand-ridges.  On our way to Thoorabiengannie at four and a half miles made the bed of a dry lake, Tiedhenpa, with splendid feed and park-like appearance of considerable extent.  The remaining part of the distance was