REACH THE EASTERN HILLS. 
65 
I had fully calculated upon finding permanent 
water at this very high range, and was proportionally 
disappointed at not succeeding, especially after hav- 
ing toiled to the summit, and tired both myself and 
horses in tracing up its watercourses. There was now 
no other alternative left me, than to make back for the 
hills to the eastward, in the hope of being more fortu- 
nate there. I had only found permanent water once, 
(at Salt watercourse) since I left my party, having 
depended entirely upon puddles of rain water for 
subsistence ; but it now became imperative on me to 
turn my attention exclusively to this subject, not 
only to enable me to bring up my men, but to 
secure the possibility of my own return, as every 
day that passed dried up more and more the small 
puddles I had found in the plains. 
Descending Mount Deception, we travelled five 
miles upon a S. E. course, and encamped upon a 
small dry watercourse for the night, with good grass 
for our horses, but without water. 
July 13. — Bending our steps backwards, to search 
for water in the eastern hills, we were lucky enough 
to fall in with a puddle in the plains, at which we 
watered our horses, and again proceeded. 
Selecting one of the larger watercourses running 
out from the hills, we traced it up a considerable 
distance, examining all its minor branches carefully, 
and sparing no pains in seeking a permanent spring 
of water; the channel, however, gradually diminished 
VOL. i. 
F 
