ously, that he was
attacked by dysentery, was without foundation.

Monday, April 8.--Camp 50R.--Camped a short distance above Camp 75.
The creek here contains more water, and there is a considerable
quantity of green grass in its bed, but it is much dried up since
we passed before. Halted fifteen minutes to send back for Gray, who
pretended that he could not walk. Some good showers must have
fallen lately, as we have passed surface water on the plains every
day. In the latter portion of to-day's journey, the young grass and
portulac are springing freshly in the flats, and on the sides of
the sand ridges.

Tuesday, April 9.--Camp 51R.--Camped on the bank of the creek,
where there is a regular field of salt bush, as well as some grass
in its bed, very acceptable to the horse, who has not had a proper
feed for the last week until last night, and is, consequently,
nearly knocked up.

Wednesday, April 10.--Camp 52R.--Remained at Camp 52 R all day, to
cut up and jerk the meat of the horse Billy, who was so reduced and
knocked up for want of food that there appeared little chance of
his reaching the other side of the desert; and as we were running
short of food of every description ourselves, we thought it best to
secure his flesh at once. We found it healthy and tender, but
without the slightest trace of fat in any portion of the body.

. . .

In the journal to the Fifteenth, there is nothing worthy of note;
there were watercourses daily, the character of the country the
same; the plants chiefly chrysanthemums and salt bush. On the
latter day it rained heavily, commenced at five in the morning, and
continued pretty steadily throughout the day. The camel, Linda, got
knocked up owing to the wet, and having to cross numerous sand
ridges; and at four o'clock they had to halt at a clay-pan among
the sandhills.

On Wednesday, the 17th, my son notes the death of poor Gray: "He
had not spoken a word distinctly since his first attack, which was
just about as we were going to start." Here King mentions that they
remained one day to bury Gray. They were so weak, he said, that it
was with difficulty they could dig a grave sufficiently deep to
inter him in. This is not in the journal, but in King's narrative.

. . .

On the 19th, camped again without water, on the sandy bed of
the creek, having been followed by a lot of natives who were
desirous of our company; but as we preferred camping alone, we were
compelled to move on u