Sunday, May 25.

Camp 4.  No dew; started at 8.35 a.m.; wind south a.m.; afternoon south-east.  Over half a mile open plain; then ridges, and on top of first range at 9.53; very rocky; spinifex, rusty gum, etc.  At twenty minutes past ten stony flat; at twenty-five minutes past ten crossed creek; at 12 o’clock along creek on the left; at 12.15 rocky hill on right and lagoon with water close under; top of next hill at 12.50; at 1.5 on the open plains and undulations and pretty well clear of the stones.  Tier of ranges immediately on the left for a mile or so; at 2.18 crossed dry creek from west-south-west; at 2.28 came to another creek from the south-west.  They are both dry where struck; followed the last one down, bearing of 60 degrees for one-third of a mile; water in creek and in a lagoon on the east side; travelling about six hours besides the one-third of a mile.  Creek flows to north-east; distance about eighteen miles.

Monday, May 26.

Camp 5.  I find that my watch, the only one in going order or rather disorder, gains eleven minutes in the hour with the regulator hard back to slow—­now and then, without any apparent cause, stops; until by sundry shakings and bumps it is prevailed upon to go again—­which is most unsatisfactory, situated as I am here, in calculating distances.  Wind all night strong from south-east to south-south-east and very cold; no dew.  The waters are drying up very fast; during the afternoon of yesterday the country looked well; nice open ranges on all sides with a large space of open country, well grassed in the centre.  Started at 8.15 a.m. on bearing of 95 1/2 degrees; at 9.17 passed till this time rather thickly wooded (low) small ironstone, pebbly country, well grassed—­ridgy on both sides; at 9.17 entered open plains; large creek ahead; first part of plain much subject to inundation; at 11.24 lagoon apparently about one mile south.  Hills cease south about four miles; passed a couple of belts of timber, mistaken in the distance for large creek.  At 1 p.m. swampy (dry); at 1.15 small creek with plenty of water and feed, from west-south-west to north-east or east-north-east; at 1.30 made a swamp with good feed and water.  Camped; distance about seventeen miles.  The horizon appears to be one dense cloud of fire and smoke on our way and on all sides of us; saw no natives.

Tuesday, May 27.

Camp 6.  Cold keen wind from south-south-east.  The camels I am sorry to say are very lame, caused by the burnt reeds running through the soles of their feet whilst near the coast; boots of leather have been made for the worst of them but they seem to suffer much, and it pulls the flesh off them more than their work.  Started at 8.40 a.m. on bearing of 95 1/2 degrees; at 9.15 lagoon close by on the left; country all burnt.  At 9.45 struck large creek with abundance of water, boggy where struck; spelled, looking for a crossing till 10.5.  Went down the creek north-east