We left this camp at 9.3 a.m. on a south-west course.  On that course from camp we crossed and recrossed the creek.  At 10.3 made two miles and three-quarters south-west over rich well-grassed tableland plains, slightly timbered with bushes.  We observed the small saline herbs which I have mentioned the horses to be so fond of, also more of the Queensland saltbush than we have seen previously; at 12.3 made four miles and a quarter south-west by west to Manning Plain, where we delayed, and started again at 12.14; at 1.20 made two miles and a quarter south-west by west where we delayed and started again at 1.35; at 2.20 made two miles and a quarter south-west by west, where we having halted started again at 2.48; at 3.10 made one mile south-west by west to where we found yesterday’s tracks; at 4.35 made four miles south by east to Saturday night’s camp; at 4.45 made half a mile south to where Mr. Campbell’s horse knocked up; at 6.19 made three miles and three-quarters south; at 6.27 made a quarter of a mile south half east to Chester Creek; at 6.52 made one mile and a quarter south half east to Mary Lake, where we formed our twenty-second camp.

Tuesday December 24.  Mary Lake.

Rested ourselves and horses, and put shoes on Mr. Campbell’s horse with screw nails.  We found the punching and fitting of the shoes difficult and tedious, although Mr. Gregory, who is himself a first-rate hand at that sort of work, assured me that it would not be a troublesome operation.

Christmas Day.  Mary Lake.

As ducks were abundant and the grass good this was a fine place for spending Christmas.  In the afternoon Jemmy and I went down the river in a south-south-east direction to a fine waterhole, which I have named Lake Frances; between Mary Lake and it, we only found shallow pools of water from the last thunderstorm.  We saw a fat old white-headed blackfellow and his gin near the waterhole.  The gin was very anxious about the safety of her four dogs and carried one of them in her arms; but on our approach she abandoned it and fled into the water; but afterwards seeing the old blackfellow had gone up a tree she followed his example.  Jemmy not understanding their language we could not get any information from them.

Thursday December 26.  Camp Number 22, situated on Mary Lake on Herbert River.

We left this camp at 7.37 a.m.  At 7.42 made a quarter of a mile south-west by south to end of Mary Lake; at 7.52 made half a mile south on left side of the river, to plains, which are slightly timbered; at 8 made half a mile south-south-east, skirting the river to Lake Frances; at 9 made three miles; at 9.19 made three-quarters of a mile south to where we crossed a watercourse from the east which I have named the Don Creek:  at 9.30 made half a mile south-south-west on left side of river over plains; at 9.41 made half a mile south by west to where I waited for the party, who came up at 9.45; at 10.5 made one mile south by