same perseverance all would have been well and much anxiety spared to all.  If the poor man has kept to the ranges I’m afraid there is little hopes of him—­it will be a sad end for the poor fellow—­a better man for his occupation could not be found.  Just fancy an unfortunate man lost between two and three hundred miles from the coast in a perfect wild with twenty-three sheep (and I question if he has any matches) left to sink or swim beyond reach of any Christian soul.  If he is recovered he may thank God.  Will still keep up the search for some days to come in hopes of recovering him.  Camp bearing 208 1/2 degrees about four and a half miles; furthest north point visible of McKinlay’s Range 304 degrees, from thirty to forty miles.  No range visible between that and 18 1/2 degrees.  Nothing but heavily timbered creeks, innumerable tributaries from both sides and south end.  Exact course of main creek not positively discernible, but for the first twenty miles from camp it bears much east, from Observation Hill it appears as far east as 3 degrees—­termination of McKinlay’s Range as visible from camp on bearing 341 degrees.  Furthest southern point of McKinlay’s Range as visible from Observation Hill 214 degrees.  Some miles beyond the watershed south, hill where watershed takes place about six miles from camp bears from the Hill Observation 216 degrees from camp.

Saturday, April 19.

Horses sent for per first light; night very cold again.  Not having had anything in the shape of food since the morning Kirby was lost, except a couple or three spoonfuls of flour each in water, I determined, Kirby not yet arriving, to kill one of our bullocks; had them up to camp and shot one in the grey of the morning; three now remaining; in the event of Kirby not being found with the sheep all correct, not very bright prospect for the party to travel to the Gulf and round to Port Denison upon; certainly we have the horses but I would be loath to kill them except in extreme need, but I will still hope for the best, but cannot stay beyond a week whether found or not, as our provisions, beef, will be lessening daily; the flour we still have is a small quantity reserved in case of sickness and for the purpose of putting a small quantity daily in our soup to make it appear more substantial; at present the vegetable the party were all so fond of has disappeared except some old dry remnants which all feel the want of much.  I hope it may reappear.  After cooking some of the liver etc. for breakfast and some to take with them, started Middleton and Palmer again to follow up Kirby’s tracks from where they left them, and started Bell back to the last camp to examine minutely the track as he went along, and all about the camp in case he may have retraced his steps, which is what he ought to have done.  By noon of same day, on our not making our appearance on his course, I started out and skirted the foot of the range where he ought to come out on