April 6.

As this was Sunday and we did not think the blacks numerous or dangerous in the neighbourhood we rested ourselves and horses.  The elderly blackfellow and one of the others we had seen yesterday paid us a visit, and in the course of the day he brought the others of his party and a man about his own age whom we had not seen before.  He made me understand that his elderly friend wanted to see a gun so I gratified his curiosity.  The boys did not run away as they had done when they saw me fire a shot on a previous occasion.  The blacks examined with great curiosity our equipment and accepted greedily everything we gave them but did not steal anything.  Mr. Bourne gave our newest acquaintance a shirt which pleased him very much.  They relished some food he gave them and said “Thank you sir” upon Jackey making them understand it was proper to say so.  The presents which pleased them most were a broad file, a needle and thread, a broken glass bottle, and clothes.  The file they could make a better tomahawk of than their stone ones; the broken glass bottle they would use for knives or wood scrapers.  We did not give them many clothes as cold weather had warned us we had none to spare.  Jemmy, on further acquaintance with the blacks, found they could speak a language he understood.

April 7.  Bowen Downs.

We left 44 Camp at 7.20.  When we had gone about one and three-quarter miles south Jackey and I waited behind to take an observation of the sun.  I made its meridian altitude A.H. 118 degrees 12 minutes (I did not take notice of the index error) the latitude is by that observation.  This morning the blacks told Jemmy of a well-watered road leading to the southward.  On that river they said the blacks had clothes and it was from them they got their iron tomahawks.  When we had come about one and three-quarter miles Jackey and I remained behind the others.  Before the party left I told Mr. Bourne to let Jemmy lead in the direction that the blacks had pointed out to him.  After making an observation of the sun we followed the tracks of our party.  When we had ridden a short distance over undulating country we reached plains.  Further on we crossed a creek which, although now dry, had evident signs of being well watered in good seasons.  The holes were deep and mussel shells were abundant on its banks.  I named it Bourne Creek.  The party, after going up the creek for some distance, went in a straight course to the south-east; when Jackey and I overtook them we learned that Jemmy was leading the way to some smoke they had seen in the distance.  After steering in that course we reached at dark a water channel but, as there was no water in it, I told Fisherman and Jemmy to guide us back to our last camp.  After travelling a considerable distance, and when I thought we ought to be near our camp, I ascertained our guides had not the slightest idea of our situation.  As I had been misled by them, and had paid no attention