; 13 
smoke if he found water. Mr. Watt and I continued on the 
original bearing, 259° 40’. At four miles a large gum creek from 
the south-west junctions with the Lilla. At five and a quarter 
miles, having travelled over some splendidly-grassed cotton-bush 
and saltbush flats, we ascended a small sandstone mount, whence 
red sandhills were observable to the north. Changing our bearing 
to 274° 5’ for a mile, then to 260° 10’ for a mile to the junction of 
another gum creek from the west with the Lilla, we next altered 
our course to 180° for three-quarters of a mile, crossing some 
sandy river channels to the south side of the main channel of the 
Lilla. Then, observing smoke evidently raised by Harry, we 
travelled towards it on a bearing of 188° 40’, through well grassed 
mulga scrub and dense patches of cassia bushes. At three and 
three-quarter miles we struck the southern branch of the Lilla, at 
a native well called Coolalie. The water here is about 6ft. below 
the surface in the sandy channel of the creek. Being led to believe 
that we should obtain the fluid more easily at Ross Camp, we con- 
tinued up the creek on a bearing of 209°, through well-grassed 
mulga scrub, passing over several small saltbush and cotton- 
bush plains. With two and a half miles traversed we crossed the 
ereek, which apparently comes from some table ranges to the 
south. and followed a small branch creek containing granitic sand. 
Three miles and a quarter had been covered, and we were at Ross 
Camp, indicated by the remains of numerous old and recent 
encampments. A diligent search confirmed my first impression of 
this place. The creek was perfectly waterless. From this point 
Mount Hopetoun bears 209°, and is distant seven miles. A very 
prominent hill in a range bearing 270° and thirteen miles off I have 
named Mount Magarey, after A. ‘I. Magarey, Esq. There being 
nothing to detain us here, we retraced our tracks to Coolalie Well, 
arriving there at 6°30 p.m., having travelled twenty-two miles in 
all. We at once began to dig out sufficient sand to enable us 
to water the horse, and, if possible, the camels, who are now 
desperately thirsty. I found Mr. Watt and Harry both expert and 
willing workers with the shovel, and very soon, by the light of a 
small lamp, we excavated a large hole, into which the water slowly 
drained. At 9°30 p.m. all the stock had been watered out of my 
oilskin sheet. They drank an enormous quantity, but the supply 
in the well, though greatly diminished, was equal to the demand 
made on it. After partly refilling our casks we had ample time 
to consider our position. Mr. Horn and the main party not being 
here according to agreement, we were obliged to conclude that 
more reliable information obtained at Crown Point Station than 
any previously available had necessitated a turther change of route. 
