, as far as the eye could reach, intersected by numerous
lines of timber, the general direction of which was about
north-north-west. Several columns of smoke were visible along these
lines, some of which had the appearance of camp and others of bush
fires. From north-west to north were lines of ranges running in a
north-westerly direction, and in the valley between us and the
first spur was a fine line of timber, indicating the course of what
appeared to be a large creek, probably the recipient of all the
small creeks that we had crossed during the morning; in every other
direction there was nothing to be seen but timbered sandstone
ranges. At noon we crossed a small creek running nearly north: the
grass had been burnt on its banks. About half a mile beyond it was
another creek of a more promising appearance, and as we approached
it we saw several crows, as well as other birds, in the trees. We
here found a small hole with the water fast drying up; it contained
a lot of young fish about half an inch long, and just sufficient
water to replenish our water bags and give the horses a drink;
below it the creek took a north-north-westerly course, and was dry
and sandy for a distance of two miles and a half, at which point we
found some large but shallow holes of milky-looking water. On the
plains near these holes we found large flocks of pigeons. The grass
was very coarse and dry, and the water would probably not last more
than a few weeks.

Horse Tracks.--On the plains to the east of the creek were the
tracks of a single horse, which had evidently crossed when the
ground was very soft, and gone in a south-westerly direction.

Position of Water.--The waterholes are situated in latitude 27
degrees 51 south, longitude 142 degrees 40 minutes east, by account
from Camp 55. From here a course of west half south took us in a
distance of about twenty miles to Cooper's Creek, which we first
struck in latitude 27 degrees 49 minutes south, longitude 142
degrees 20 minutes east. The land through which we passed on the
11th was so low and wooded as to prevent me from seeing the
direction of the ranges; the first five or six miles was tolerably
open. We then came to a box forest, where the soil was loose and
earthy, similar to polygonum ground; there were in every direction
signs of heavy floods and frequent inundations. We crossed several
small watercourses, in one of which there was a hole of rather
creamy water, at which we halted f