Our friends on the Adur were looking anxiously for us.  We were two days behind the appointed time, and they feared some evil had befallen us, not taking into consideration the many delays incidental to such a journey through strange and difficult country as we had made.

On the 24th of May we determined to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.  All hands from the Adur came ashore, and I drew them up in line under the Union Jack, which was duly hoisted near the camp.  We presented arms; sang “God Save the Queen” vigorously, and fired a salute of twenty-one guns, finishing with three cheers.  I venture to record that our vocal efforts were as sincerely and heartily made in the Australian wilderness as any which rang that day in any part of Her Majesty’s wide dominions.  We were all highly delighted—­not only feeling that we had done our duty as loyal subjects, but other celebrations in more civilized places were forcibly recalled to memory.

June 22nd. Saddled up at dawn, and steering southerly over clear, open grassy plains for twenty-eight miles, we reached the cliffs, and rested an hour; after which we continued our journey and reached camp a little after dark, finding all well.

June 23rd. Made preparations for a start for Eucla to-morrow, and put everything in travelling order.  During my absence, Osborn had got the horses’ feet in order, and the pack-saddles had been overhauled and repairs generally made.  In looking round the camp, Tommy Windich found shoulder-blade of a horse and two small pieces of leather.  They no doubt belonged to Mr. Eyre’s equipment, and, on reference to his journal, I find he was here obliged to kill a horse for food.

I cut off part of the shoulder-blade, and have since given it, together with the pieces of leather, to His Excellency Governor Weld.

June 24th. Started at 8.30 a.m. en route for Eucla.  Steering in a N.N.E. direction for fifteen miles, reached the cliffs, and after following along them two miles, found a large rock water-hole, but in an almost inaccessible spot.  While I was examining the cliffs near, to find a place where we could get the horses up, Tommy heard a coo-ey, and after answering it a good many times, we were surprised to see two natives walking up towards us, unarmed.  I approached and met them; they did not appear at all frightened and at once began to eat the damper I gave them.  We could not understand anything they said.  I beckoned them to come along with us, which they at once did, and followed so closely after as to tramp on my spurs.  They pointed to water further ahead.  After walking about a mile, four more natives were seen running after us, who, on joining, made a great noise, singing and appearing very pleased.  Shortly afterwards two more followed, making seven in all; all entirely naked.  We found the water alluded to, on the top of the cliffs, but it being too late to get the horses up, we turned off to the southward half a mile, and camped on a small grassy flat, without water for the horses.  The seven natives slept at our fire.  We gave them as much damper as they could eat.  They had not the least particle of clothing, and made pillows of each other’s bodies, and resembled pigs more than human beings.