Monday, April 28.

Camp 45, Elder’s Creek.  Last night we slept in the bed of the creek on the sand.  There must have been a terrific flood here lately, such as this part of the world has not been visited with for many years; between thirty and forty feet over our heads in the bed of this creek are now to be seen logs, grass, and all sorts of rubbish left by it; and immense trees torn up by the roots, and others broken off short at twenty to thirty feet from their roots—­showing the violence of the current.  No doubt there is plenty of permanent water in the range further up in the last three creeks we have camped on.  Mild morning with fleecy clouds.  Wind south-south-west.  Another deep creek joins this where we struck it, coming more from the south-west; water at its junction with this.  Plenty of water up this creek; did not go down it.  Our journey today on bearing of 355 degrees over sixteen and three-quarter miles was over good, lightly-timbered, well-grassed country and a good deal of flooded country.  Saw no water but lots of birds.  Shot an emu.  Changed course to 347 degrees for a small hill in the distance and at two and a half miles crossed several irregular watercourses from the north flowing to south and east; went then to a small spinifex rise, timbered.  At eight and a half miles struck a creek with water; I have called it Poole’s Creek after Mr. R.T.  Poole of Willaston.  Distance travelled today twenty-five and a half miles.  After getting into camp myself and Middleton went on to the hill in front and at two and a quarter miles arrived at it.  It is perfectly detached and stands in the open plain—­is very stony or rather rocky.  Open plains to the north and west as far as you can discern; to the north-north-east appears dark timber which I hope to be the main creek, and appears to be bearing to north and west.  A couple of isolated hills from fifteen to twenty miles off bearing respectively, the southern one 251 1/2 degrees, the northern one 254 degrees.  The southern one I have called Mount Elephant, the one to the north Mount McPherson, and the one I am on Margaret.  Another in the distance bearing 258 degrees.

Tuesday, April 29.

Camp 46, Poole’s Creek.  This creek takes its rise from the westward on the plains between this and the hills which are now a considerable distance from us; and after passing this encampment bears to east round by north.  Mild morning, wind easterly.  Shot two young emus.  Pass over immense plains with small belts of bushes here and there and in places more especially near the isolated hill on the plain.  At eleven and a quarter miles further came to a watercourse from the westward and flowing considerably to north of east with plenty of water.  Camped to give sheep and bullocks time to feed, as it was half-past 8 p.m. ere they reached their camp last night, and one of the bullocks considerably lame.  Distance travelled about thirteen and a half miles.  Instead of plains,