Thursday, May 29.

Camp 8.  Wind as yesterday and cool.  I am sorry to say I have three of the party on the sicklist—­all seized first with cold shivering then excessive heat, ultimately a numbness and want of proper use of their limbs, sickness, and want of appetite and headache.  They are Middleton, Hodgkinson, and Kirby.  They are confined to bed; but I hope with a little care will soon recover, as it is an awkward part of the world to be taken ill in.  Getting the meat jerked and putting the pack-bags, etc., to rights.  The other bullock as yet appears to stay contented; he came up during the night and took a survey of his dead companion and quietly returned to his feed.

Friday, May 30.

Camp 8.  Wind as usual, south-east to south-south-east; keen and cold, the day pretty warm.  The invalids I think a little better, but far from well.  The sore-footed camels improve; but my impression is that their feet will not thoroughly get well till they arrive in the settled districts where they can have a spell for some time.  Meat-drying, bag-mending, horse-shoeing, with other little matters.  If these lagoons are permanent (and no doubt there are many more) this is a splendid pastoral country, feed good enough for any stock and timber to suit almost any purpose.  There are here several fruit-bearing trees but unfortunately the stone happens to be the largest portion of the fruit and at present none of them are ripe.  A vast quantity of large beans are here on a runner, the same that Dr. Leichhardt used, when burnt, for coffee and rather seemed to like.  None of our party seem to care trying it, although we have now nothing but meat and salt and from four to five pounds of flour to make gruel in case of sickness.  All have been till within the last few days in excellent health and nowise short of appetite.  From the time we are out beyond what was anticipated I suppose the people of Adelaide have given us up as lost.  I hope however they will not think it necessary to send a search party out after us.

Saturday, May 31.

Patients about the same.  Middleton rather worse.  Wind in the morning from south-east and south-south-east, at midday changed to east, then north and afterwards to north-north-west.  Meat nearly dry.

Sunday, June 1.

Still in Camp 8.  Patients about the same, very weak and feverish, but must endeavour to make a move tomorrow.  Wind from north, north-west to west, and rather warm.  Had a visit from a number of natives, they do not appear so shy as usual; they do not circumcise but have one or two teeth out in front of upper jaw.  From what I could see the young men are not allowed to talk, but merely making a hissing and twittering noise to make themselves understood, and pointing and motioning with the hand whilst the old men do the talking business.  I could make but little out of them.  I made them a few presents with which they seemed much pleased;