We now followed the same course as Wells had done, passing Lyell-Brown Bluff—­from which Mount Elisabeth bears 339 degrees—­and Parson’s Bluff, eventually striking the Bonython Creek.  This, as described by Wells, is a flat, shallow, and, in places, but ill-defined watercourse.  In it are one or two good deep pools, of which one is probably permanent.  Fringing the banks is a narrow strip of salt-bush and grass; beyond that mulga and coarse grass.  This narrow belt of good country continues down to the lake, and as we saw it just after the rain looked fresh and green.  There is no extent, but sufficient to form a good resting-place for travelling stock.  Some cattle-tracks of recent date were visible, a small wild herd of stragglers probably from the Gascoyne.  Turkeys were seen in fair numbers, but they were the shyest birds I have ever come across—­so much so that we never got a shot.  The late rain had left so many pools and puddles that we had no chance of waiting for them at their watering-place.  One of the wild cattle beasts, amongst which must be a bull, for we saw tracks of quite young calves, would have been very acceptable, for our meat had come to an end.  In consequence we wasted no time in further examining the Bonython, but made tracks for Lake Darlot.  The days were getting so short now that, in order to accomplish a good stage, we had to rise long before daylight and collect the camels and horses, following their tracks by means of a fire-stick.  In this way we were enabled to get a start at sunrise, having breakfasted—­in imagination!

Several parties of prospectors have been to Lake Wells, and at first we followed a regular pad; however, it did not seem to be going very direct, so we left it.  Between Lake Wells and Lake Darlot—­a distance of about 130 miles—­the country consists of open mulga thickets with a coarse undergrowth of grass, alternating with spinifex desert and sand.  Occasional low cliffs and ridges occur, and nearer Lake Darlot numerous ranges, from which the Erlistoun Creek takes its rise.  Amongst these hills we saw the first auriferous country since leaving the vicinity of Hall’s Creek, and in the Erlistoun the first permanent water (probably) since leaving the Sturt Creek, a distance of about 800 miles.  A narrow belt of grass and salt-bush fringes the Erlistoun, and in the winter looks healthy and succulent; however, a few months soon alters that, and in the summer all is parched and yellow.  How pleasant it was to see such country, after the dreary desert!  Tracks and roads were now numerous as we approached civilisation.  The same lake lay between us and the settlement that had caused Conley, Egan, and myself so much trouble in former days.  Choosing the same narrow channel where I had formerly crossed, we managed very fairly well.  Most of the camels bogged, but some did not, nor did the horses, and our loads now consisted of little else but the saddles, and were therefore no great weight to carry.  The weather was lovely