Saturday, February 1.

Hayward’s Creek.  Wind east; party still ailing.

Sunday, February 2.

Camp, Hayward’s Creek.  Some of party better and some worse.  Wind easterly.

Monday, February 3.

Camp, Hayward’s Creek.  Wind easterly; digging a well, in case the origin of our sickness be caused by the water in the creek.

Tuesday, February 4.

Camp, Hayward’s Creek.  Wind north and gusty with hot puffs.  Got the well down about fifteen feet; the lower part, for about seven or eight feet, chiefly through sand; abundance of water but salt to the taste and I think unfit for use.  Had it emptied out when it soon filled; the water continues salt and lathers well with soap and can wash well; it cannot be used by us although the natives don’t despise it.

Wednesday, February 5.

Camp, Hayward’s Creek.  Wind from east and west of north during the morning with hot gusts, very oppressive.

Thursday, February 6.

Camp, at Hayward’s Creek.  Wind north till late in the afternoon with some thunder and lightning and a good many clouds; appears in the distance to be raining in patches, but I have so often been deceived that I now take less notice of appearances of that kind; late in the afternoon the wind chopped round to south.  Has been very hot and sultry all day.  Intend in the morning to send Mr. Hodgkinson and Middleton to Lake Goonaidringinnie to ascertain for certain if that lake still contains abundance of water, and good, as I think it does—­and on the way to pass and examine Lake Moolionboorana to see if it will suit as a stage to camp at on our journey to Goonaidringinne, as it was not very deep when I was there last and I have my doubts about it.  The natives report a considerable quantity of rain to have fallen to the east and towards north-east in the country north of Lakes Blanche and MacDonnell or Appacalradillie.  If so I wish it had fallen when I was there that I might have been able to have examined the country there thoroughly.

Friday, February 7.

Started Mr. Hodgkinson and Middleton to Lake Goonaidringinnie.  Wind from all points of compass with many clouds; weather disagreeable and sultry during the day; rained steadily once or twice during the night with a good deal of thunder and lightning in the distance; much rain must have fallen to east and north of east as well as to the south.

Saturday, February 8.

Splendid rain and steady.  Thundering all round with every appearance of a considerable quantity of rain which will, I trust, come in such abundance as to enable me to push to the north-west across the desert, as up to this time I have been completely shut up, as it were, here for want of a decent shower to enable me to do anything of service anywhere; and the provisions gradually getting less although the ration is now as low as I can well make it.  I have reduced it first from 8 pounds of flour per man per week to 7