by, from
whom the whole party experienced the utmost kindness) Lake Bulpaner, now
all but dry (and what was mistaken by me the other day, when in search of
a good depot, for this lake--very dissimilar indeed) bears 158 degrees,
distant about two miles along almost a valley. Saw some of the natives on
the way here, and sent Mr. Hodgkinson and Bulingani back for one of them
to forward a letter to Camp Depot to desire them to move on to this
place--so much more desirable for a depot than where they now are. Turned
out the animals to await their return. In the meantime three lubras
arrived on the opposite side of the lake and we called them over. Shortly
after, Mr. Hodgkinson and the black came back; we had some luncheon,
started the lubras back to the cart at the depot with a note requesting
them to advance to this lake and, at 1.25 p.m., started on a bearing of
345 degrees, along the side of the lake and at 2.45 left the north-east
sweep of the lake; then on a bearing of 32 degrees over sand ridges and
saltbush flats. Very open country till within one mile of camp at Gunany,
a large creek about sixty to eighty yards wide and from twenty to thirty
deep, on which we found a number of natives just finishing their day's
fishing. They had been successful and had three or four different sorts
of fish, namely the catfish of the Murray, the nombre of the Darling, and
the brown perch, and I think I observed a small cod. They offered, and I
took several, which were very good--they promised to bring more in the
morning. We came upon and crossed a large flooded wooded polygonum flat
which continued close to the camp. Distance travelled twenty-five and
three-quarters miles.

Saturday, October 19.

Early this morning about eighty natives of all sorts, healthy and strong,
visited the camp and could not be coaxed or driven away. I think they
would have tried to help themselves were it not from fear of the
arms--how they came to know their deadliness I cannot say. Altering one
of the camel saddles that has hurt one of their backs and caused us to be
late in starting. Started twenty minutes to 9 a.m. Immediately crossed
creek to Toorabinganee, a succession of reaches of water in a broad
creek, some apparently deep, spelled half an hour, crossed creek and went
over very high sandhills, pretty well grassed, with a little saltbush of
various kinds, with some flooded and saltbush flats, and arrived at
Luncheon Place, an island often, now part