Thursday, October 24.

Left at 7.15 bearing 215 degrees; travelling one hour and twenty minutes over splendid grassy flats with low intervening sand-ridges.  At five minutes to ten made Arannie, a recently-dried lake (abundance of clover and grasses) three miles long by one broad, at rightangles to our course, and struck it quarter of a mile from its northern extremity.  At 10.22 made Ityamudkie, another recently-dried lake; plenty of luxuriant feed.  At ten minutes to 11 reached its western border at a creek called Antiwocarra, with no great quantity of water, flowing from 320 degrees.  At 1 p.m. left Antiwocarra.  At five minutes to 2 made a large flooded flat, recently under water, with a great abundance of clover and grasses reaching as far as the eye can trace.  At rightangles to our course at 2.15 reached its western border, and at 2.25 reached the depot at Lake Buchanan or Cudye-cudyena—­the place where I directed the camp to be shifted to—­and found everything in good order, much to my satisfaction.  My black female messengers it appears did not go back at once to our camp with the note I gave them, and consequently they did not get here till Sunday.

Friday, October 25.

At camp very much the appearance of rain but none has fallen.  Clearing off any heavy trees round our camp that could be used by natives as places of concealment.  Have made up my mind to send a party into the settled districts as far as Blanchewater with such information regarding the object of my search and as much general information as is in my power, with copy of journal and tracing showing our route, which Mr. Hodgkinson will be better able to do neatly at Blanchewater than here in the tents; although he has made here on the spot such a one as would give a very good idea of all that is necessary.  No part of this country has had any rain for very many months; the grasses and herbage generally on the hilly ground being like tinder.  If it had an ordinary share it would be an excellent healthy stock country.  From the numbers 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.