of natives and
their excellent condition I am satisfied that many lakes and creeks in
this part are permanent; and as I mean to give it a good look over I have
come to the conclusion that I will require a further supply of flour,
tea, sugar, and a few little et ceteras, and will therefore send horses
with the party that goes to Blanchewater under the guidance of Mr.
Hodgkinson to bring up additional supplies, trusting to get them there,
and at the same time hoping this course may meet the approbation of the
Government; for in so doing I adopt the course I would pursue on my own
account and therefore do it on theirs. The men are in excellent health
and good spirits, and the animals except the camels (they cannot stand
the heavy hills of sand if at all hot, which it was on our last trip) are
all in good condition--many of them much better than when we left
Adelaide. The wind is blowing from all parts of the compass but rather
cool. For days previous it kept from the north and generally very hot
indeed. As yet no rare specimens obtained of birds, animals, or anything
else.

Saturday, October 26.

Threatens very much for rain; very sultry; sun overcast; and wind from
every quarter except north. Will start Mr. Hodgkinson, Bell, Wylde, and
Jack (the native) on Monday 28th October if nothing comes in the way, and
will request Mr. Hodgkinson to endeavour to procure a native that can
speak the language of the natives here; as those we have got do not know
one word nor, on the contrary, do the natives here understand them. They
all circumcise and principally knock out the two front teeth of the upper
jaw. After all the threatening for rain the day has closed without any.

Sunday, October 27.

Wind south and sultry; everything ready for the return party making a
start tomorrow; I expect them to be absent about three weeks. I am sorry
so much time should be lost; however should any rain fall ere they return
I will go over to Cooper's Creek Depot; but the country is so exceedingly
dry in this region at present that, unless I can make out to hit upon
those places where water has been left by the last flood, it would be
quite impossible to travel with anything like safety. Not a single quart
of water (surface left by rain) has been fallen in with since we left
Lake Torrens; and I question very much (from my knowledge of the Darling
country) whether Mr. Howitt has been able to push his way out as far as
Cooper's Creek yet for the