On the 9th we slept at the water in the creek at the top of the ranges; but, on the 10th, instead of going through the pass, and by the valley, under the two little peaks, through which we had entered the plains on the first journey, we now turned to the westward in order to avoid that rugged line, and discovered that the creek, instead of losing itself in the flat to the eastward, continued on a westerly course to our left; for being attracted by a flight of pigeons, wheeling round some gum-trees, we might otherwise have overlooked it; I sent Flood to examine the ground, who returned with the pleasing information that the creek had reformed, and that there was a pool of water under the trees, nearly as large as the one we had just left.

I was exceedingly pleased at this discovery and determined to send Mr. Stuart back to it, as it would place him nearer his work.  We reached the farthest water, from which we had the second time driven the poor native, late in the afternoon, and on examining the hut, found he had ventured back to it and taken away his traps; but the water in the creek was almost dried up; thick, muddy, and putrid, we could hardly swallow it, and I regretted that we had not brought water with us from the hills, but I had been influenced by a desire to spare my poor horse, as I knew the task that was before him, although the poor brute was little aware of it.  About sunset an unfortunate emu came to water, and unconsciously approached us so near that Flood shot it with his fusee.  This was a solitary wanderer, for we had seen very few either of these birds or kangaroos in these trackless solitudes.

On the morning of the 10th we were up early, and had loaded the cart with 69 gallons of water before breakfast, when Joseph and I took our departure, and Mr. Stuart with Flood returned to the hills.  I had selected one of our best horses for this journey, an animal I had purchased from Mr. Frew of Adelaide.  He was strong, powerful, and in good condition, therefore well qualified for the journey.  I had determined on keeping a general north course, but in the kind of country in which I soon found myself it was impossible to preserve a direct line.  At about four miles from the creek the brush became thick, and the country sandy, and at six miles the sand ridges commenced.  Wishing to ease the horse as much as possible, Joseph endeavoured to round them by keeping on the intervening flats, but this necessarily lengthened the day’s journey, and threw me more to the eastward than I had intended.  A noon I halted for two hours, and then pushed on, the day being cool, with the wind as it had been for the last three or four days from the south.  Had the country continued as it was, we might have got on tolerably, but as we advanced it changed greatly for the worse.  We lost the flats, on a general coating of sand thickly matted with spinifex, through which it was equally painful to ourselves and poor Punch to tread.  We crossed