‘December’ 23.—­All hands were up almost the whole of last night, some engaged in watching the cattle and horses, and others in cutting up and jerking the beast.  The rain came down heavily, and a cold bitter wind was blowing; all the tents, save the ration tent, being like seives, the outside was rather preferable to their shelter; so each passed the night as best they could.  The cattle were started away in the morning, leaving Scrutton and Binney to finish jerking the meat, there being some sunshine, which was beginning to be a rarity, for the wet season had now fairly set in.  Twelve miles of wretched country were traversed, white sandy undulating ground, clothed with shrubs and underwood, in the place of grass, and the camp pitched on a low stringy-bark ridge, without water, for in this flat sandy country the ground absorbs the rain as soon as it falls.  The horses had to be watched again to-night, for there was not a blade of grass to be got.  A small quantity of water was found in a creek about a mile-and-a-half ahead.  Late in the evening the horses and water-bags were taken to it, and sufficient water brought back for the use of the camp.  Two small unimportant creeks were crossed to-day, sandy and dry, trending west.  Distance 12 miles N.W. by N.  (Camp XLIX.)

‘December’ 24.—­The cattle were watched at a small lagoon beyond the creek before mentioned, which was deep and rocky.  The country continued of the same miserable character as yesterday, till at 7 miles, the party came to a belt of bloodwood and stringy-bark, where, by good luck, there was a little coarse grass, but as the stock had had none for two days, they were not particular. (Camp L.) Distance 7 miles.  Course N.N.W.

‘December’ 25.—­The rain came down all last night, and continuing throughout the day (for the first time continually), did not suggest a merry Christmas.  However the Leader wished his companions the compliments of the season, and pushed on.  The country decidedly improved if the weather did not.  The tail end of some scrubs were passed in the first five miles, cheifly tea-tree and oak, and half-a-mile further on, a fine creek of sandstone rock, permenantly watered; at 7 miles another similar, but larger, was named Christmas Creek.  Here whilst Mr. Jardine was halting in wait for the cattle, he marked a tree Xmas, 1864, in square.  In it the swamp mahogany was seen for the first time since leaving Bowen.  Its native name is Belourgah.  The creek was therefore christened by that name.  At 15 miles the party reached and camped on a fine, well-watered, rocky creek, where the blue grass was plentiful, the first that had been seen for many weeks.  The country travelled over was very soft, and though driven loose, three of the horses could scarcely travel over it.  The packs also were getting into a very dirty state, consequent on the amount of mud and water they had been dragged through.  The timber noticed to-day was very varied, comprising all