Part 19 (1/2)

18th

This es for water First tried westerly, and searched soes, but without success

My horse soon gave in again, and I left him on a patch of feed and continued the search on foot I had not walked a quarter of a ully, and, following down the gully, we found a fine pool in a sandy bed, enough to last ato where we left the horse, camped for the remainder of the day There is notas there is plenty of water the horses will do very well To- back to meet the party, as the e came was very crooked, and I hope to save them many miles It is certainly a wretched country we have been travelling through for the last two months, and, what makes it worse, the season is an exceptionally dry one; it is quite summer weather However, we are noithin 100 miles of Mr Gosse's farthest west, and I hope soon to see a change for the better We have beenwater, and I am indeed very thankful for it

19th (Sunday)

Started back to , etc, hidden in a tree After travelling about twenty one on well during ht at the rock hole, where we stayed on the 16th, and found sufficient water for the horses in it The note I left had been taken away by the natives, ere very nu mine and Windich's for several miles The party had not, however, seen any of them They were rejoiced to hear of the water ahead, and we steered for it, keeping to the west of our return route to search so nine rassy flat close to some cliffs; rass seen

Walked over twenty miles to-day ht for the water found on the 18th for fourteen miles; reached it and ca, etc, as we left them Horses were very thirsty, but there is plenty of water for them Feed is rather scarce I named this creek and pool after the Honourable Arthur Blyth, Chief Secretary of South Australia

21st

Rested at ca to take several sets of lunars, but the day was cloudy, and I onlyahead to-morrow in search of water

22nd

Started in company with Pierre to look for water ahead, steered a little north of east for about twelve et a view ahead The line of cliff country ran North-East, and to the east, spinifex undulating country; nevertheless, as I wished to get a view of some of the hills shown on Mr Gosse's map, I bore East and East-South-East for over thirty miles, but could not find a drop of water all day, and we had come nearly fiftyspinifex country, and no place that would hold water, even after rain, for o any further, although I et a view further to the east, but our horses would have enough to do to carry us back Steered north for a few miles, and then North-West for twenty miles, thence West-South-West to ca had any water for ourselves or horses since we left it yesterdayThe weather was very warm, and our horses were done up when they reached caot a fine view to the North-East, which looksto-morrow in that direction in search of water

24th

My brother and Windich started in search of water We rested at caet results which I care reat

25th

Rested at caood hopes that they have found water ahead Took several sets of lunars this evening Barometer 2880 at 5 pm; eather

26th (Sunday)

Rested at ca been over sixtyfound only one small rock water-hole ater in it Many rock holes had been seen, but all dry They had ht and talked to She did not seeiven her The country appears ht scarcely possible A range and flat-topped hill were seen about fifteen miles to the east of their farthest point, but they were unable to reach it Barometer 2870; fine

27th

Rested at Blyth Pool Intend going a flying trip to-morrow Worked out several lunar observations, and the position of Blyth Pool is in latitude 26 degrees 1 rees 27 rees at 5 pm

28th

Left ca a pack-horse and ten gallons of water, besides two s my brother's tracks for twenty miles, and reached the water in the rock hole seen by him, and had dinner In the afternoon continued on a little south of east for about seven miles Camped without water for the horses on a small patch of old feed The weather is dark and cloudy, and there is ; if it coreat boon, and will enable us to travel on easily

TODD RANGE

29th

Rained lightly during the night; et plenty of water ahead, I left the drums and water, as the horses would not drink We steered about east over miserable spinifex country, and cut my brother's return tracks Passed a rock hole seen by hi to us that very little rain had fallen We sighted the range and hill seen by my brother, and reached it at sundown I have nahest hill, which is table-topped, I have named Mount Charles, after Mr C Todd, CMG, Postn of water, and apparently very little rain has fallen here last night Found an old natives'

encampment, and two splendid rock holes quite dry; if full they would hold 700 or 800 gallons Was very disappointed at this, and it being now after dark we ca travelled over forty e we had most e, and spinifex everywhere What grass there isthisWe bore north for four or five ot a fine view to the east, and could see some hills, which are no doubt near Mr Gosse's farthest west They bore South-East about eighteen o on to the us, on the strength of the little rain we had the night before last