‘October’ 27.—­Still travelling up the river, the party in about 9 miles reached the lagoons where they were first struck, and turned out for a couple of hours.  There was good feed round them, in which the horses solaced themselves, whilst their riders caught some fish and shot some pigeons for dinner, after which they commenced blazing the line for the cattle.  They reached the main camp at 9 o’clock at night, having in eight hours marked a line through the best of the sandy tea-tree ridges, between 18 and 20 miles in length; no despicable work for three tomahawks.  Mr. Jardine communicated the result of his trip to Mr. Richardson, but that gentleman could or would not acquiesce in the opinion arrived at by the brothers, despite the very conclusive arguments with which it was supported.  This opposition occasioned a feeling of want of confidence, which caused them to cease consulting Mr. Richardson on their course, leaving him merely to carry out the duty of his appointment.

‘October’ 28.—­The following day was spent in camp, preparatory to a fresh start ahead of the cattle, which, it was decided should leave this camp on the 31st.  Some of them could scarcely move, but their number were found correct on counting.

‘October’ 29.—­Again taking old Eulah with them, the brothers started on another quest for the Lynd, which, like the mirage of the desert, seemed to recede from them as they approached; setting out late in the day, they camped at night once more on the lagoon, at the end of their marked-tree line, a distance of about 18 miles.  They took with them four days’ rations of flour, tea, and sugar, trusting to their guns and fishing lines for their supply of meat.

‘October’ 30.—­Starting at half-past 6 in the morning the little party steered N. by W. about 36 miles.  At about three-quarters of-a-mile from the river they passed a fine lagoon, and at four miles further on a rocky creek running west with some water in it.  Their way lay over soft, barren, sandy ridges, timbered with tea-tree.  Eight miles more brought them to a creek where water could be obtained by digging, and at 24 miles further they camped on a large well-watered creek, running N.W.; the whole of the distance was over the same soft, barren, monotonous country.  On their way they killed an iguana (’Monitor Gouldii’), which made them a good supper, and breakfast next morning.  The cattle party at No. 13 Camp were left with instructions to follow slowly along the marked-tree line, to camp at the lagoon, and there await the return of the advance party.

‘October’ 31.—­An early start was made this morning at a quarter after 6, and 20 or 22 miles were accomplished on the same bearing as that of yesterday, N. by W., over the same heavy barren stringy-bark country.  Three small creeks were crossed, but not a hill or rise was to be seen, or any indication of a river to the northward.  At this point the heavy travelling beginning to tell