ly, dry, on south-eastern side
in an extensive irregular lake of about eight and a half to nine miles
long by an average of one and three-quarters to two miles--very hot--name
of Lake Canna Cantajandide. Thought I might be able to cross it at the
narrowest place with the horses and camels instead of going all round, as
it put me out of my course. Sent Mr. Hodgkinson to ascertain its depth,
and found it too deep, so had to go round. Arrived at Luncheon Place at
ten minutes past 12, and started again twenty minutes to 4, and travelled
to east end of lake, bearing 202 degrees till 4.17; then course of 27
degrees over exceedingly high and abrupt sandhills with poor miserable
flats between them; towards the end of our day's journey over a rather
more flat country with large dry beds of lakes or swamps, as dry as ashes
with a salt-like appearance, the only vegetation being a few scattered
bushes of samphire and an occasional saltbush--a more dreary country you
could not well imagine. Arrived at Lake Mooliondhurunnie, a nice little
lake nearly circular and nearly woodless, about one and a half miles
diameter, at five minutes to seven p.m. Abundance of good water and
plenty of feed--clover and some grass--bearing of creek that fills lake
350 degrees; east end 87 degrees; west end 303 degrees; north side 15
degrees, distance travelled twenty-eight miles. On arrival at lake saw
several native fires, which on our lighting ours, were immediately put
out. Saw nothing of them.

Sunday, October 20.

At daylight about 90 to 100 natives of all sorts visited us; they were
not so unruly as those of the morning before, having evidently had some
communication with whites--using the word Yanaman for horse, as in
Sydney, and one or two other words familiar to me. Plenty of fish, of
sorts, in the lake, although not very deep. Cuddibaien bears 100 degrees.
The natives here say that the whites have left above place and are now at
Undaganie. I observed several portions of European clothing about their
camps as on our course we passed them. At the camp we found twenty to
thirty more natives, principally aged and children; and on the opposite
side of the lake there was another encampment, in all numbering about 150
souls. The sandhills in our course were exceedingly high on the western
side but pretty hard; but on the eastern side almost precipitous and soft
drift sand; a dray or cart might get east, but I cannot fancy it possible
it could return.