and reached Torowoto on the 29th of the same month.
From the latter encampment he forwarded the following despatch,
including my son's surveying report.

Torowoto, October 29, 1860.

SIR,

I have the honour to report, that I left Menindie on the 19th
instant with the following party:--

Messrs. Burke, Wills, Brahe, Patten, McDonough, King, Gray,
Dost Mahomet, fifteen horses and sixteen camels, and Mr. Wright, who
had kindly volunteered to show me a practical route towards
Cooper's Creek, for a distance of a hundred miles from the Darling;
and he has more than fulfilled his promise, for we have now
travelled for upwards of 200 miles, generally through a fine
sheep-grazing country; and we have not had any difficulty about
water, as we found creeks, or waterholes, many of them having every
appearance of permanent water, at distances never exceeding twenty
miles. Mr. Wills's report, herewith forwarded, gives all the
necessary details. Although travelling at the rate of twenty miles
a day, the horses and camels have all improved in condition, and
the country improves as we go on. Yesterday, from Wanominta to
Paldrumata Creek, we travelled over a splendid grazing country, and
to-day, we are encamped on a creek or swamp, the banks of which are
very well grassed, and good feed all the way from our last camp
(44), except for two miles, where the ground was barren and swampy.
Of course it is impossible for me to say what effect an unusually
dry summer would produce throughout this country, or whether we are
now travelling in an unusually favourable season or not. I describe
things as I find them.

Mr. Wright returns from here to Menindie. I informed him that I
should consider him third officer of the expedition, subject to the
approval of the committee, from the day of our departure from
Menindie, and I hope that they will confirm the appointment. In the
mean time I have instructed him to follow me up with the remainder
of the camels to Cooper's Creek, to take steps to procure a supply
of jerked meat, and I have written to the doctor to inform him that
I have accepted his resignation, as, although I was anxious to
await the decision of the committee, the circumstances will not
admit of delay, and he has positively refused to leave the settled
districts. I am willing to admit that he did his best until his
fears for the safety of the party overcame him; but these fears, I
think, clearly show how unfit he is for his post. I