north-west, unbroken horizon; from west-north-west round towards south-west a sandhill in the distance; altogether a dreary spot.  A heavy-timbered creek comes in from south-west into the desert and appears in the distance to have a tributary from east-south-east; the timber ceases as it comes on to the open desert plain between four and five miles from this.  Quite an unbroken horizon to the west of north-west for some distance.  The sandhills that are in view are small and detached.

Saturday, January 25.

Started back and got to water just in time to give the horses about half as much as they could drink and a little for ourselves; rapid evaporation has taken place since we left yesterday, for then there was enough for 100 horses, now there is not half enough for our eight; so must make for one of the permanent waters south of this tomorrow; have to close-hobble our horses and tie their heads down to them to prevent them straying too far.  Strong breeze from the southward.

Sunday, January 26.

Started at 7 a.m. for Coonhadie, a rainwater watering-place in desert, but found it quite dry; start for camp, Hayward’s Creek, and arrived at 1 p.m.; distance about twenty-nine and a quarter miles direct from place to place, but we made it more, being obliged to go round to avoid sandhills and rounding Lake Hodgkinson.  The horses stood much in need of water and seemed to enjoy it much, from quantity they drank and the time they took about it.  It was fortunate for us that the weather was cool for the season of the year.  Wind south and east; found all right at the camp and the men that were ailing much improved.  The water in the creek is diminishing gradually, about three-quarters of an inch per day.

Monday, January 27.

Camp, Hayward’s Creek.  Wind easterly.  Natives very much displeased at our remaining here but until the weather suits my purpose better than it does at present they must put up with it.

Tuesday, January 28.

Camp, Hayward’s Creek.  Wind east and south, very hot.  Several of the party still complaining, the cause of which is difficult to say as the water in the creek appears good and there is plenty of it.  The water in the creek is between five and six miles long.  There is a lake or swamp rapidly drying up close by, from which there is a very disagreeable odour when the wind is from that quarter; the ailing may proceed from the malaria arising from that place; other waters in the immediate neighbourhood drying up fast.  Natives in a great state of excitement today, wishing to inform me that the flood, or arimitha, was coming down and that we must get out of this or we should be drowned (I only wish it would come) stating that it had now reached as far as a place I know well, so tomorrow will make it my business to ride over that length to the south and east to Browne’s Creek to ascertain the truth or otherwise of this information.

Wednesday, January 29.