66 CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN 



of S. 55° E., which just took us clear of some low bluff hills. In 

 three miles turned S. 65° E., and at once entered into the thickest 

 mulga scrub that I have ever met with. This, with the stony 

 nature of the ground, made progress slow. Occasionally from a 

 higher point a peep would be obtained of the country to the north 

 and southward, but as far as the eye can reach it appears the same. 

 Appearances are not more deceiving in anything than in judging 

 of country from a distance. The only real way to find out what it 

 is like is by going to see. At 4 - 30 I reached a small flat, which 

 was traversed by a small sandy channel. Upon either bank, grow- 

 ing in the wildest luxuriance, was the most beautiful herbage, and 

 as there seemed to be more stones and scrub on ahead I accepted 

 it for the night's bivouac. Travelled fourteen miles. Bar. 

 28-600in., ther. 69° at 5 p.m. 



Friday, August 9th. — Camp No. 80. Bar. 28-725in., ther. 35°. 

 — A very lovely morning. Started at 7'30 on a bearing of S. 60° E. 

 At eight miles turned S. 50° E., and in eleven miles from last camp 

 struck a sandy water channel, down which at times tremendous 

 bodies of water must flow with great violence. Evidence of such 

 is to be seen in the scooped-out earth and sand, the bended and 

 broken trees, the piled-up driftwood and debris. This channel 

 apparently comes a great distance from the westward, and we 

 having travelled from that direction and not having seen any hills 

 200ft. high I cannot but wonder where the great fall can be that 

 gives the water so fierce an impetus. This little mulga channel 

 soon swelled out into a broad sandy creek bed, in which were 

 several little pools of water. Some few gumtrees also appear as 

 we follow it down, but these though nearly all young are not of 

 very vigorous growth. Continuing down the creek on a bearing of 

 S. 80° E. for three or four miles it is joined by another creek 

 coming from the northward. From the junction it takes a more 

 southerly course. I now left the creek and stood upon a bearing 

 of S. 45° E., travelling over stony, scrubby, undulating country for 

 five miles, and to avoid some awkward-looking, scrubby hills I 

 turned on a bearing of 90° and in three miles reached a small 

 hollow where there was a little feed for the camels, which they 

 were turned out upon for an hour or two, and then made fast for 

 the night. Travelled twenty-two miles, for the most part over poor 

 and scrubby country. Bar. 29 , 125in., ther. 62° at 5 p.m. 



Saturday, August 10th. — Camp No. 81. Bar. 29 , 175in., ther. 

 24°. — Calm, bright, beautiful morning. Started away at 7*30 on a 

 bearing of N. 10° E. over stony, scrubby hills. At six miles the 

 country opened out into a wide valley, through which ran a small 

 boxtree Avatercourse. In this a few small pools of water were 

 noticed. Horse and cattle tracks now became quite numerous, 

 showing that we were again approaching the settlements. At nine 

 miles struck a cattle path that took us upon a general bearing of 

 N. 80° E At seventeen miles from our last camp a hut and cattle 



