Part 34 (1/2)

At 550 steered north 10 degrees east, crossing the creek several times, and at 100 turned to the north-north-east and north-east, crossing the sandstone hills, round which the creek turns at a right angle, and at 1210 pm camped on the creek near our track of the 29th February

Nearly all the pools of water had dried up, and the water at the camp had become brackish; some of the pools, however, reat party of natives appeared to be travelling up the creek, as fresh fires are constantly seen to the north-east along its course A cool breeze from the west to north-east rees; passing clouds from the east in the afternoon

FOLLOW UP STURT'S CREEK

14th March

Resumed our route and followed the creek upwards from 550 am till 150 pm, e camped about three miles south-west of camp 45 at the first pool before the atriplex flat A short distance above the cae sandy creek, which proved to be the cause of the change in the character of Sturt's Creek below that point As our route was at a greater distance froave a better opportunity of ascertaining the nature of the country beyond the influence of inundation; to the north-west a vast plain traversed by low ridges of gravel and drift sand, clothed with a scanty growth of triodia and a few hakea bushes, rose gradually from the creek, but on the south-east a more abrupt sandstone slope terreater elevation, and showed that ere still within the bounds of the desert Moderate breeze fro clouds; a slight shower at 110 pm

15th March

Resurees east, one hour into the triodia plain, then north 60 degrees east till 920 ae pool in the creek, and rounding the bend caes The water in the larger pools had sunk from six inches to a foot since we had passed doards, and al clear and cool, with clouds and light showers in the afternoon accompanied by thunder

16th March

As there was no water in the creek for the next thirty-three s and prepared for an early start; but unfortunately the horses had strayed farther than usual, which delayed us till 70 a nearly the outward route, passed close to camp 43, the waterhole at which was dry, and at 10 p the heat of the day, and resu the south-east side of the plain through which the creek flows The ground was stony and bad travelling, but as thethe first pool of water at 830 pm; this was one h four feet deep on the 24th February The pool at whichcamped appears to be per, the water three feet deep close to the bank Ducks were nu An easterly breeze continued through the day, and as usual there were a few clouds towards sunset Unfortunately, the dry weather had warped the scale of the thermometer to such an extent that it broke the tube

DENISON PLAINS WATER DRYING UP

17th March

We were again delayed by trifling circumstances, and did not leave the ca nearly cleared the desert the weather was coe course north-east, traversed the wide grassy plains on the right bank of Sturt's Creek, to which the naiven At 20 ponum flat, which was all that remained of the water which had covered the flat to the extent of three-quarters of ae passed down last rassy plains to the north-west, as we did not see the limit at any point in that direction Cool breeze from east with thin clouds all day

18th March

Left the caht and proceeded to Camp 40 on the outward route, and halted for the ree lay before us across the dry country Large flocks of cockatoos came to the pool at this camp, and we shot thirty-three, which was a very welco clouds

19th March

Steered north 60 degrees east at 635 aht bank at 90, when there was nothing but the polygonum flat to mark its course; at 1030 altered the course to nearly east, passing a large sheet of brackish water, which appeared deep and permanent at the lower end, but shallow at the upper part; at 1120 encamped at a s brackish, and ere anxious to procure a supply of good water before proceeding further, as the next three stages of the outward track were now destitute of water Strong easterly breeze; light clouds

20th March

At 555 arees; at 620 struck a srees, crossing two small watercourses from the north with a little water in the deeper portions of their beds, the general character of the country box flats and open grassy plains near the creek At 725 entered a large grassy plain extending north and east for ten miles, and at 915 halted at a srassy hollow, our object in halting thus early being to enable us to start fresh in the afternoon, and, should the country continue open, to push on through the night, by which the water could be reached before the heat of the sun was too great for travelling

At 35 resu one to five miles on each side of our route; at 70 observed a native fire about two miles to the north, froreat distance, and at 715 were fortunate in finding a pool of rainwater in a slight depression of the plain, and encamped We could not find sufficient wood near the camp to boil our tea, but were satisfied with the discovery of a sufficient supply of water

21st March

We were again in the saddle at 515 arees east, reached the limit of the open plain, which turned to the south-east and extended to the horizon; at 640 entered the wooded country which bounded the plain, and the soil changed frourass The country gradually rose till 925, e came to an abrupt descent into the valley of Sturt's Creek, but the country did not irassy flats; at 1050 cae open pool of water in the bed of the creek On the pools there were large flights of whistling ducks, but so wild that they could not be approached within range of our guns Moderate breeze fro the day The weather has for the past ten days been so ood set of lunar distances, and it is useless to observe unless under circumstances favourable for accuracy

22nd March

535 a up the creek on a northerly course; at 720 changed the course north-east by north, and at 1130 camped about a mile below Camp 35 The hill at the bend of the creek proved to be basaltic, with a stratu on it The pools of water in the bed of the creek were much reduced and all the smaller ones dried up

23rd March (Sunday)

The feed and water not being in sufficient quantity to per at this camp, we followed up the creek nearly on the outward course A few miles above the creek a party of blacks came out of the creek and co therass and ran away into the bed of the creek After six and a half hours' journey camped at the lower end of the pool, where we had halted on the 15th February; near the northern bend of the creek we passed a fine deep pool, which appears to retain water through the dry season All the ser ones had sunk two feet since ere here in February