ed the
fish, made their appearance with a few more, and seemed inclined to
go with us and keep up the supply. We gave them some sugar, with
which they were greatly pleased--they are by far the most
well-behaved blacks we have seen on Cooper's Creek. We did not get
away from the camp until 9.30 A.M., continuing our course down the
most southern branch of the creek which keeps a general south-west
course. We passed across the stony point which abuts on one of the
largest waterholes in the creek, and camped at 12.30 about a mile
below the most dangerous part of the rocky path. At this latter
place we had an accident that might have resulted badly for us: one
of the camels fell while crossing the worst part, but we
fortunately got him out with only a few cuts and bruises. To Camp
3.--The waterhole at this camp is a very fine one, being several
miles long, and on an average about--chains broad. The water-fowl
are numerous, but rather shy, not nearly so much so, however, as
those on the creeks between here and Carpentaria; and I am
convinced that the shyness of the latter, which was also remarked
by Sturt on his trip to Eyre's Creek, arises entirely from the
scarcity of animals, both human and otherwise, and not from any
peculiar mode of catching them that the blacks may have.

From Camp 3.

Friday, 26th April, 1861.--Last night was beautifully calm and
comparatively warm, although the sky was very clear. We loaded the
camels by moonlight this morning, and started at a quarter to six:
striking off to the south of the creek, we soon got on a native
path which leaves the creek just below the stony ground and takes a
course nearly west across a piece of open country, bounded on the
south by sand ridges and on the north by the scrub by ground which
flanks the bank of the creek at this part of its course. Leaving
the path on our right at a distance of three miles, we turned up a
small creek, which passes down between some sandhills, and finding
a nice patch of feed for the camels at a waterhole, we halted at 7.
15 for breakfast. We started again at 9.50 A.M., continuing our
westerly course along the path: we crossed to the south of the
watercourse above the water, and proceeded over the most splendid
salt-bush country that one could wish to see, bounded on the left
by sandhills, whilst to the right the peculiar-looking flat-topped
sandstone ranges form an extensive amphitheatre, through the far
side of the arena of which may b