EXPEOKING EXPEDITION. 65 



to think some water might be in the neighborhood. I therefore 

 called a halt for half an hour so that a search might be made. 

 Beetson and myself decided to go up the creek ; Fred and Billy- 

 went in the opposite direction. We soon heard Billy calling out, 

 and we returned to a spot only a few yards down the creek from 

 where we crossed it, and there was a group of four or five native 

 wells or springs in the creek. Surrounded as they are by very 

 splendid pastoral country, this position will some day be of value. 

 From here I turned upon a bearing of S. 3(y E., and in four 

 miles struck a large gum creek flowing to the southwards. The 

 bed was level and sandy, and there being so little drift it was not 

 easy to decide which way the water flowed I imagine this must 

 be the Krichauff of Mr. Giles's journey in 1873. In less than two 

 miles crossed another and still larger creek, which I imagine would 

 flow into the other. At the first creek I turned upon a bearing 

 of S. 56° E., and continued travelling over flat, well-grassed mulga 

 country till 5 o'clock, when I camped. Travelled twenty -four 

 miles. Bar. 28-400in., ther. 75° at 5 p.m. 



Wednesday, August 1th. — Camp No. 78 ; S. latitude 25° 57' 42". 

 Bar. 28-450m., ther. 23° ; cloudy, calm.— While Fred and Billy 

 were out after the camels they noticed tolerably fresh camel tracks 

 and a man driving them on foot. I imagine they must belong to a 

 survey party. Started upon a bearing of S. 82° E., and very soon 

 after noticed a trig, station upon a low scrubby hill, and in five 

 miles reached its foot. Here it may not be out of place to express- 

 the hope that ere long this valuable work may be extended, and that 

 these beacons, emblems of accuracy and precision, will be seen upon 

 the mountain tops to the 129 meridian, and this vast territory 

 accurately placed upon our maps. I regret not having gone up to 

 examine the trig, to compare with my latitude of last night, but 

 it was so early in the day that I was anxious to push on. Passed 

 on the south side of the trig, hill, between it and some isolated 

 rocks or ridges, a little southerly from it. We now entered upon 

 a tableland country, well clothed with every variety of herbage. 

 At nine miles from last night's encampment reached a small sandy 

 channel running to the southward, in which was a strong water 

 soakage. Billy tells me it is called Imbunyerra, and that he has- 

 been here before. To avoid certain rough-looking hills I turned 

 upon a bearing of S. 60° E. Travelled for five miles over very 

 rough hilly country, which gave us much trouble and caused many 

 delays. At last found a leading channel, down which we travelled 

 for two miles on a general bearing of S. 45° E. In the sandy 

 channel of a small creek Billy found some water, and though it was 

 still early I turned out, for the camels want water. Travelled 

 sixteen miles. Bar. 28 - 475in., ther. 75° at 5 p.m. 



Thursday, August 8th. — Camp No. 79. Bar. 28 - 475in., ther. 

 36. — I found such a multitude of duties requiring immediate atten- 

 tion that a start was not made till noon. Started upon a bearing 



