Saturday, January 18.

Wind from south-east.  Bell very little improved, the rest much better.  Bullocks up and yoked before sunrise.  It appears to be gathering all round for rain but as usual I suppose will pass off without our being favoured with any.  The natives lately have hardly ever visited the camp; I suppose their curiosity was satiated after the first few days, and when they found they could not drive off the animals without being heard or observed, and the probable consequences, they thought proper to keep aloof.  Start this morning for Goonalcarae Creek, or Ellar’s Creek, where there is abundance of fine feed, water, and protection from the excessive heat of the sun.  Bullocks start at 7 a.m.; passed on our right the recently-dried bed of a very nice lake, and so deceptive was it from its appearance some distance off that even the natives insisted that there was still water in it, but there was not any.  The lake I have called Deception—­it is a nice lake and retains water for a very long time.  I pushed on through the flooded and well-grassed bed of Goonalcarae, or Ellar’s Swamp.  First went on a westerly course then on a southerly to the creek, but did not admire the water which was neither abundant nor sweet, although there were innumerable birds and some natives there.  Went on to Lake Hodgkinson and was astonished to find it so much dried up in only twelve days, that being the time since we left it, and the water now quite bitter; then went on to Hayward’s Creek that fills Lake Hodgkinson, and there found abundance of everything that we required—­feed, water, wood, and shelter from the broiling sun.  The dray did not get this length but camped on east end of lake, and obtaining for their use water, by digging, at four feet from the surface, good and clear; the cart will come on here in the morning and I shall remain here till there is a change in the weather as it is fearfully trying; there has been a shower on our course since we passed on our way to Lakes Blanche and Sir Richard, but nothing of any consequence.  The horses were more done up today than I have yet seen them from the oppressive heat.

Sunday, January 19.

Dray came in about noon; a considerable number of natives here on creek.

Monday, January 20.

Camp, Hayward’s Creek; wind very strong from north-east to south-east.

Tuesday, January 21.

Camp, Hayward’s Creek; wind chopping all round; heavy rain apparently to the north and north-east, but little of it came this way; gave the native who has been with us so long an old ewe to distribute amongst his friends.

Wednesday, January 22.