June 1.—­A cold frosty morning.  The weather during the might changed from very mild and pleasant to extreme cold; the thermometer varying 24.  At daylight we loaded the horses and set forward to get out of this scrub, and endeavour to procure water and grass for the horses, which we were obliged to tie to bushes, to prevent them from straying.  After going about two miles farther we cleared the thickest of it:  but the country was only more open, and not in any degree more fertile.  We proceeded on towards the south-east end of Peel’s range until twelve o’clock, when, having gone nearly eleven miles, the horses were unable to proceed farther with their loads.  There was nothing left for us but to unload them, and separate in every direction in search of that most precious of elements, without tasting a drop of which both men and horses had now existed nearly thirty-six hours.

Water was found in three holes in the side of Peel’s range sufficient for all our necessities, and a most grateful relief it proved, particularly to the poor horses, who were nearly famished for the want of it:  one of the best of our animals was so exhausted that it was with some difficulty he could be taken to the water.  I wish the grass had proved equally good, but there is nothing for them but dead wire-grass (Ira).  We saw no game, with the exception of three or four kangaroo rats:  many beautiful small parrots were observed; and, barren as the scrub appeared to us, yet our botanists reaped an excellent harvest here; nothing being more true than that the most beautiful plants and shrubs flourish best where no grass or other herbage will grow.

June 2.—­Fine and clear as usual, the nights cold.  One of our best horses, mentioned yesterday as having fallen repeatedly under his load, was this morning extremely ill, having entirely lost the use of his hind quarters.  Finding that he was quite unable to accompany us, and in fact unfit to do any more work, it was with extreme reluctance that I caused him to be shot, since it would have been no mercy to suffer him to linger in his present miserable condition.  Observations were taken to ascertain our situation, and they placed us lat. 34. 8. 8.  S., long. 146.03.  E., the variation of the compass being 7. 18.  E.

The hills to the southward of us are curiously composed of pudding-stone in very large masses, the lower stratum being a coarse granite intermingled with pieces of quartz, and a variety of other stones.

June 3.—­Set forward on our route, passing over a rugged, barren, and rocky country for about four miles and a half, when we ascended a hill upon our right which promised a view in all directions.  To the southward, south-west, and even west, the country was a perfect plain, interspersed with more of those dreadful scrubs which we had passed through.  In coming from Mount Aiton to the south-east were some low ranges, with a level barren country between us and them; this hill was named Mount Caley, and the