Mr. Stuart had completed his work with great accuracy, and had filled in the chart so much that he saved me a good deal of trouble.  The 16th being Sunday, was a day of rest to us all, but one of excessive heat.  Mr. Stuart had stationed himself in the bed of the creek, which sloped down on either side, and was partially shaded by gum-trees.  The remains of what must have been a fine pond of water occupied the centre, and although it was thick and muddy it was as nectar to myself and Joseph.  I was surprised and delighted to see that the creek had here so large a channel, and Flood, who had ridden down it a few miles, assured me that it promised very well.  During my absence he had shot at and wounded one of the new pigeons, which afterwards reached my house alive.

I had intended proceeding to the eastward on my return from the north, but was prevented by the total failure of water.  I therefore determined to trace the creek down, in the hope that it would favour my advance with the party into the interior.  On the 17th, therefore, leaving Joseph to take care of Punch, I mounted my horse, and with Mr. Stuart and Flood, rode away to the westward.  At first the creek held a course between S. W. and W. S. W. occasionally spreading over large flats, but always reforming and increasing in size.  It ran through a flat valley, bounded by sand hills, against which it occasionally struck.  The soil of the valley was not bad, but there was little or no vegetation upon it.  At 15 miles we arrived at the junction of another creek from the south, and running down their united channels, at three miles found a small quantity of water in a deep and shaded hollow.  It was but a scanty supply however, yet being cleaner and purer than any we had for some time seen, I stopped and had some tea.  There was a native’s hut on the bank, from which the owner must have fled at our approach; it was quite new, and afforded me shelter during our short halt.  The fugitive had left some few valuables behind him, and amongst them a piece of red ochre.  From this point the creek trended more to the north, spreading over numerous flats in times of flood, dividing its channels into many smaller ones, but always uniting into one at the extremity of the flats.  At 21 miles the creek changed its course to 20 degrees to the west of north, and the country became more open and level.  There were numerous traces of natives along its banks, and the remains of small fires on either side of it as far as we could see.  It was, therefore, evident that at certain seasons of the year they resorted to it in some numbers, and I was then led to hope for a favourable change in the aspect of the country.