282 MR. LARMER SENT TO THE EASTWARD. [CH. VII. 



past eleven, and I sent the cattle with four armed men to tlie 

 river, which was about a mile from our position. In the 

 course of the afternoon the wind from north-west increased 

 to a gale, but the air was still warm, and the sun set in a 

 clear sky, while the heavy clouds sank to the eastern horizon, 

 where sheet lightnings played incessantly until after mid- 

 night. The air brought by that wind from the north-west 

 was so dry, as to occasion a most unpleasant heat and parched 

 sensation in the skin of the face and hands, and several men 

 complained of headache. That air seemed to contain no 

 moisture, and in all probability blew over extensive deserts. 



July 20.- — The morning was clear, with a cold and gentle 

 breeze from north-west. We this day reached the spot 

 which we had occupied on the 29th June, and again en- 

 camped there, with the intention of halting two days, in 

 order to refresh the cattle. During the afternoon the sky 

 became again overcast, and the wind shifting to the south- 

 west, blew strongly with drizzling rain. 



July 21. — Very tempestuous weather, unlike any we had 

 hitherto met with in the interior. I sent Mr. Lariner with 

 four men to examine the dry creek, which we had now left 

 higher up towards the hills on the east, that he might as- 

 certain if any ponds remained there, as it lay in our best 

 line of route homewards. That creek afforded the only 

 prospect during this dry season, of a line of route by which 

 we might avoid the great detour in following the Bogan 

 river, which route would otherwise be unavoidable, merely 

 from the general scarcity of water. Two of the men were 

 now invalids, one with scurvy, the other with dysentery. 



July 22. — The wind blew very keenly all night, and in 

 the morning the sky was cloudy, but no rain fell ; towards 

 noon the sun appeared, and the air became milder. About 

 two p. M. I was informed that the " Spitting tribe" was on 

 the river bank, and in communication with our men in 

 charge of the cattle ; also, that tliree had come over and sat 

 down, asking, as usual, for tomahawks. These were, the old 



