The cart did not arrive last night as above-mentioned for the reason that one of the bullocks was taken with the staggers.  They camped about two and a half miles back and arrived here this morning at 5.45 a.m.; turned the bullocks out for a time to get a drink and pick a few bushes, and started again at 7.48.  Travelled for nine miles over desert stony plains and got to top of large sandhill.  This hill is called Cannacannanthainya.  Some distance off another sandhill called Mallapoorponannie; and another not quite so far called Cookorda.  Another long leading sand range in the distance called Goontyaerie, at the northern termination of which is at present a dry creek known by the above name.  There is a native well there and another a little further west.  To give the ailing bullock, as he is a good one, a chance of recruiting, I have dipped down the sandhill and camped at 11.35 a.m., and for another reason, it looks like rain.  During the afternoon several nice showers.

Wednesday, February 12.

Steady rain for about four hours last night and this morning breaks fine and clear with a wind north.  Plenty of water lying all over the desert.  Dray started at 7.40 a.m. and at six and three-quarter miles distant got to Mallapoorponannie sand range, the southern end of which is called Cookorda; about two miles off its northern end dwindles down to nothing in the desert.  To the northern end of Coontarie sand range a creek and well by the same name; about twelve miles off a detached sand range in the desert, at the north-west end of which are two waters named respectively Dhooramoorco and Moongaara; also on north-east side of sand range another water in creek called Caddryyerra, also a sand range about four to five miles distant.  There was a number of small detached sandhills going round to the westward, then a perfect blank round to Coontarie well.  At about three to four miles struck the flooded flat from the main creek I am now going to.  At eleven and a half miles further came to and crossed a deep creek crossing my course at rightangles.  At two miles further came to water in Daeragolie Creek, same creek that I crossed before two miles from this; within this last two miles the whole flat is cut up into innumerable channels most difficult to travel over, I must therefore see and get a better road for the cart.  Here there is not a green blade of grass to be seen; there are some green shrubs in the bed of the creek that the camels are fond of.  I arrived at this camp at 2.5 p.m.; distance travelled today twenty-three and a half miles.  This is an immense creek, timbered on its bank with box, bean, and other trees, the water is in detached holes but good and apparently plenty of fish and ducks.  No natives seen yet although their tracks are fresh; the natives that are with me say a number of them have taken advantage of the rain lately fallen and gone out to the sandhills on both sides of this creek.  By native report the creek flows just here south and east, but within two miles from this it turns quite round by south-west and west, passing Coontarie.  Neither cart nor sheep arrived in camp tonight.