Camp 51.  Mild night and morning.  Our small stock of sheep got out of the fold in the night and half of them are missing this morning; I hope they may be got.  Sky a good deal overcast.  Wind east.  I am glad that the missing sheep, after a little looking for, were found close by; the loss of them would have deprived us of at least seven days’ food, which would be no light matter in a country where we seldom can even shoot a duck, much less sufficient for all the party who are now, I am happy to say, in excellent health.  As this creek—­which I have called Davis Creek after one of the party—­bears a good deal on my course of yesterday, and has a good many irregularities near the bank which make it rough travelling, I have changed my course to north-west or 315 degrees; at one mile cleared the creek although it keeps pretty close on my present course and appears to be hemmed in on the right by the last ridge I crossed yesterday; then over plains and belts of myall gum; at five and three-quarter miles crossed a small creek flowing northward over similar country, but more sound; at ten and a half miles crossed a couple of small creeks flowing northward (the natives burning a short distance on our left); then over a variety of fair open country and a small portion of very thick and scrubby myall forest; then over spinifex ridge; then over well grassed tablelands for several miles; then over pretty thickly timbered spinifex rise of considerable length; and lastly for the last five miles over plains, light belts of timber here and there; got to a creek with sufficient water at twenty-seven and three-quarter miles.  Long day, rather; did not see a drop of water the whole way, but I fancy we could have had what we desired at the early part of the day but we did not require it.  The sheep and bullocks got to camp about 8 o’clock p.m., an astonishing journey for the poor little fellows; they are now, with the constant travelling and the long coarse grass, falling off in condition, but had they the feed they were accustomed to they would be much better; as it is they are far from poor—­kidneys well-covered yet and fairish caul fat.

Monday, May 5.

Camp 52.  Mild night with dew and calm, still morning; very cloudy and rainy-like to north and south of east.  Heard a native wailing for some lost friend or relation during the night but as yet have seen none of them, although they were burning on left of our track yesterday within two miles.  This creek comes from southward and flows to west of north considerably; it is well defined with box timber, but not at all deep; it appears more like a side creek to a larger stream.  There is here a considerable plain on both sides and as yet no main creek visible although I fancy there must be one, all the drainage yesterday being to left of our course, no doubt to meet some large creek to south and west.  Started on bearing of 315 degrees; crossed the creek obliquely at starting; then over a plain; at three and a quarter