ither about
the flats nor the ranges did we see any signs of the heavy floods
that have left such distinct marks in other parts, and the
appearance of the whole country gave me the idea of a place that
had been subjected to a long-continued drought. At the northernmost
end of the eastern line of ranges, and on the west side of them, in
latitude 26 degrees 30 minutes south, longitude 141 degrees 40
minutes east, is a low detached line of range about seven miles
from north to south. On passing inside this range at its southern
extremity, one enters a flat bounded to the south by high red sand
hills to the west and north by the low range, and running up to the
north-north-east, until it reaches the main range. On the lower
part of the flat there is no creek, but on proceeding up it, at a
mile and a half there are three waterholes with a few bushes
growing around them; the water was fast drying up when we were
there. There were some ducks, snipe, and pigeons about them: the
former always returned to the holes after having been disturbed, so
I imagine there is not much more water in the vicinity. In
continuing up the flat, the main creek appears to be that along
which the box timber grows, but the bed is sandy and quite dry. By
keeping off a little to the left, at a mile above the waterholes,
one comes on the bed of another creek, with only here and there a
gum tree and a few bushes. Up this creek at a distance of three
miles nearly north from the three holes, and where the creek
emerges from the ranges, is a large hole well shaded by heavy box
trees; it contained only a small quantity of water when we passed,
but I fancy that in ordinary seasons the water would be permanent.
This creek has been much frequented by blacks at one time, but not
lately. Hundreds of hawks and a good many crows and magpies were in
the trees near the waterhole.

Geographical position.--The geographical position of the three
waterholes is by account from Cooper's Creek latitude 26 degrees 34
minutes south, longitude 140 degrees 43 minutes east.

Meteorological remarks.--It would be rather premature for me to
offer any opinion on the climate of Cooper's Creek on so short a
stay, and my other duties have prevented me from making any
observations that would be worth forwarding in detail. I may
mention, however, that neither on the creek, nor during the journey
up, have we experienced any extreme temperatures: the heat,
although considerably greater