had cost us so much to overcome, could not be thought of for a moment; but upon that mature reflection which our serious situation demanded, it was deemed the most prudent plan to return so far back as would enable us to reach the higher lands to the south-east.  This we expected to do by Saturday evening:  twenty miles back we had left land of considerable elevation; and we could only hope that in its vicinity we should find a dry ridge on which to accomplish our purpose, and occasionally a patch of country in which the horses might find subsistence; for they were at present very much reduced.

August 23.—­We returned yesterday to Parry’s Rivulet, within twelve miles of Weltden Valley, which was the whole distance we had gone in the direction of our course towards the coast, although we had travelled during the week upwards of seventy miles.  The weather for the last four days has been extremely tempestuous, with slight showers of hail and rain:  the winds were chiefly from the west and north-west, the temperature being extremely cold for the latitude and season.  The observations of to-day place this station in lat. 30. 57. 20., long. 149. 20.  E. Variation 8. 42.  E.

August 24.—­We were a little surprised at finding that a severe frost had taken place during the night, and that the thermometer was now as low as 28 degrees.  Ice lay within a few yards of our fire, of the thickness of a dollar.  Our course throughout the day was southerly, and led us up the banks of Parry’s Rivulet.  We experienced fewer difficulties than on any day since we had entered this desert, and accomplished between nine and ten miles, at the end of which we entered a small valley of good forest ground with tolerable grass; though early in the day, the horses needed refreshment too much, not to induce me to stop here for the remainder of it:  as we could not at the utmost have gone above two miles farther.  This valley, and the appearance of forest hills to the southward, gave us strong hopes that by continuing our present course for a day or two longer we should get into a better line of country, and be enabled to resume our easterly course.  Parry’s Rivulet was here a series of large ponds, near which were traces of natives, but of old date.  In this desert, we have never met with any signs that can lead us to believe it has ever been before crossed by any human being.

August 25.—­A smart frost during the night:  the morning fine and clear.  At eight o’clock we proceeded on our route, taking a more easterly direction according to circumstances.  Between three and four miles from our camp, we had an extensive view to the east and south-east, and saw with extreme satisfaction a lofty chain of fine forest hills thinly timbered, bearing east-south-east of us; and distant fourteen or fifteen miles.  To the east were extensive flats, bare of timber, and apparently either composed of white sand, or covered with dead grass; our distance would not enable us to distinguish which:  these