SEND OVERSEER TO TlfE EAST. 105 
up and down rocky and precipitous creeks, whilst, 
for the last two nights before our arrival we had 
scarcely been off the horses’ back. 
On the 17th, which was dreadfully hot, I went in 
the afternoon to see what progress was being made at 
the well, and found that only two feet had been 
dug in the last twenty-four hours, whilst just as I 
arrived the men came to a solid mass of rock, and 
could sink no further ; I at once ordered them to 
return to the camp, as I did not think it worth while 
to make further attempts in so unkindly a soil, and 
indeed I Was unwilling to have my little party too 
much divided in the neighbourhood of so many 
natives. The men themselves were very glad to get 
back to the camp, having been apprehensive of 
an attack for the last two or three days. 
August 18. — This morning I sent off the overseer 
and a native boy to the eastward, to look for water in 
the watercourses I had been at on the 5th of August, 
the Scott not having then been discovered ; they 
would now be thirty-six miles nearer water 
than any I was acquainted with at that time, and 
would consequently be less hurried and embarrassed 
in their movements than I was. By giving them a 
pack-horse to carry ten gallons of water, I hoped 
they would be able to examine all the watercourses 
so effectually as to secure the object of their search, 
for I felt satisfied that water was to be found some- 
where among the high ranges we had seen in the 
direction they were going ; I also directed the 
