Tuesday December 10th.

Not being able to proceed further with our lame and thirsty horses I deemed it advisable to return campwards at 6.30 a.m.  At 7.30 a.m. made two miles and three-quarters west-south-west to where I told Jemmy to lead the way over the range and follow down one of the southerly creeks in search of water.  At 8.35 made three miles south-west by west to the head of the creek.  At 9.20 made four miles and three-quarters south-east down the creek, where we left it, as its course was contrary to the direction of the camp.  At 9.50 made one mile and a quarter west-south-west to another small creek, which we also resolved to follow down a short distance in search of water.  At 10.12 made one mile south down the creek.  Crossed our old tracks.  At 10.27 made half a mile south-east.  Left the creek.  At 10.53 made one mile west-south-west.  At 11.3 made half a mile south-west to creek, which we also searched.  At 11.35 made one mile south-south-east down creek, and then left it; no appearance of water, which we very much wanted.  At 1 p.m. made two miles south by west.  At 2 made two miles and three-quarters west half north where we gave our horses each two quarts of water from our leathern bottles, and changed saddles so that Jemmy could ride the packhorse, as the one that he had been riding was not able to carry him any further.  At 3.15 made two miles and three-quarters west by north to our outward tracks, and also a great number of emu tracks, from which we concluded that water existed in the neighbouring creeks.  At 3.50 made one mile and a half west-south-west to Burrows Creek.  At 4.5 made half a mile north-east where we had to proceed without our packhorse down the creek a considerable distance without noting the distance, as I was too thirsty.  As the birds were very numerous here, we were convinced that we were near water.  The continual noise they made was more tantalising than can well be conceived:  it sounded to us like, “We know where there is water, but you foolish fellows cannot find it.”  About one mile further down the creek we came upon a hole very recently dry, in the bottom of which we dug with a pointed stick, clearing away with our hands to the depth of two feet.  We found muddy water, with which we quenched our thirsts and gave the horses a few quarts of it.  Having hobbled our tired horses we started upon foot to look for water.  We went up the creek a mile to where it is joined by another branch; this we followed up for about two miles, and found a hole with a few gallons of water in it.  In about a mile we crossed over to where we had left the packhorse, which we found after a prolonged search.  At 12.10 a.m. made half a mile north-east down Burrows Creek to the junction of Pratt Creek.  At 1 one mile and three-quarters north to our well.  At 1.25 started to take the horses to the water.  At 3 two miles and a quarter south by west to the water previously found; and unsaddled our horses.  We were twenty-two consecutive hours, more or less, engaged, during which time Jemmy never showed any signs of fatigue, or unwillingness to proceed.