T 
Wednesday, May 9th.—Camp No. 4; bar. 29°75in., ther. 41°, 
wind K. At dawn this morning the thermometer registered 28°. 
The day’s journeying was begun at 8°30 a.m. Travelled con- 
tinuously throughout the day, except for an hour’s halt at Dal- 
housie Springs to enable the geologist to complete an examination 
of this, the most desolate locality imaginable. Camped at 5°30 
p-m. on Red Mulga Creek, having made good twenty miles. The 
name of the creek is derived from a peculiar and rare species of 
mulga, supposed to be Acacia cyperophylla, which we first beheld 
here, and which is possibly confined to this region. ‘The tree 
differs from other kinds of mulga in its characteristic bark, which 
inclines downwards in shaving-like curls and is of a distinctive 
reddish color. A few aboriginals—uninteresting even to the an- 
thropologist — were seen at Dalhousie Springs. 
Thursday, May 10th.—Camp No. 5; bar. 29°84in., ther. 32°. 
Nearly two hours were occupied in arranging the camels’ loads. 
The greater part of to-day’s journey was across uninteresting stony 
plains. The last few miles, over red sandhills almost destitute 
of vegetation, were equally unattractive. At ten miles we passed 
the Opossum Waterhole, and at twenty-two miles we camped at 
Hughes Waterhole, a long narrow cavity of no great depth, con- 
taining rain water strongly impregnated with clay and vegetable 
matter, which gives the liquid a milky appearance. The country 
in the vicinity at present has almost all the attributes of a dreary 
desert. Of grass there is none, and nearly all the bushes have 
been destroyed by stock watering here; consequently the camels 
and horses will fare badly to-night. Additions to the ornitho- 
logical, botanical, biological, and geological collections have been 
made, not only at this point, but at every camp and on every pos- 
sible opportunity during the journey. 
Friday, May 11th.—Camp No. 6; bar. 29°57in., ther. 37°. The 
Afghans reported that a strange camel had joined the mob during 
the night. I found the animal to be in a crippled condition, 
having large holes in the soles of its feet, due to the stony nature 
of the country; it was bleeding profusely, and could barely limp 
into camp. An early departure was made from this wretched 
place. At five miles we arrived at Blood’s Creek store. Here I 
purchased a riding saddle to replace an old one supplied at Oodna- 
datta. At 3°30 p.m. we camped near a large rain water hole in 
the Adminga Creek, called Indiakata, having travelled seventeen 
miles. 
Saturday, May 12th—Camp No. 7; bar. 29°44in., ther. 35°. 
Mr. Horn and Professor Spencer obtained this morning several 
group photographs of the members of the party in suitabe 
