a quarter miles across a plain chiefly covered
with barley-grass; at 11.20 came south-east by south across plains for
five and a quarter miles to the edge of wooded country, and halted till
12.35; at that place I made the meridian altitude of the sun 81 degrees 1
minute, latitude 19 degrees 6 minutes; at 1.2 came south-south-east one
and a quarter miles along a plain; at 2.17 thence south-east three miles
further along the plain, on which there was abundance of saltbush and
pigweed; at 3.35 came south half west over thinly wooded plains; at 3.50
came south-west half a mile and encamped. Distance today seventeen and a
quarter miles.

February 23.

This being Sunday we rested ourselves and horses. In this neighbourhood
Jackey and Fisherman caught five possums.

February 24.

Left Camp 12 situated on the right bank of Flinders River at 8.52 a.m.
During last night and this morning the weather was showery. In the
morning the rain was accompanied by a strong east wind. Now that I am on
the subject of the weather I may mention that for some time past it was
so cool that although we were in the sun the hottest part of the day I
did not find the heat oppressive; at 10.5, having come south-east and by
south three miles, that course took us along a plain of the richest soil,
but thinly grassed, in consequence, probably, of a recent dry season; at
10.40, having changed our course to east, we came one and a half miles
and crossed a watercourse with large quantities of mussel shells on its
banks, but with no water in its channel; at 12.15, having changed our
course to south, we came over country, some of which was well grassed and
very green from the old grass having been burnt, for four miles. In this
distance we crossed several watercourses. Having left the party to look
at the river, in my absence a high hill was seen to the left of our
course. The banks of the river I found thickly wooded with western-wood
acacia; at 1.15 came south along the plain for two and three-quarter
miles, and delayed until 1.50 while the most of our party tried
unsuccessfully to shoot emu; at this place I observed the hill which had
been seen previously. It bore south-east by south from us. The hill I
named Fort Bowen; at 2.25 came south-east and by south over rich ground
for two miles. The vegetation in this neighbourhood seems nearly dead,
excepting the saltbush. To adjust the packs of one of the horses we
delayed here till 2.45; at 3.50 came 2 and