of the 17th, like the preceding one, was bitterly cold, with the wind at S.W.  During the early part of this day we passed over high ridges of sand, thickly covered with spinifex, and a new polygonum, but subsequently crossed some flats of much greater extent than usual, and of much better soil, but the country again fell off in quality and appearance, although on the whole the tract we had crossed on our present journey was certainly better than that we traversed in going to Lake Torrens.  We halted rather earlier than usual, at a creek containing a long pond of water between two and three feet deep.  The ground near it was barren, if I except the polygonum that was growing near it.  The horses however found a sufficiency to eat, and we were prevented the necessity of digging at this point, in consequence of the depth of the water.  We observed some fossil limestone cropping out of the ground in several places as we rode along, and the flats were on many parts covered with small rounded nodules of lime, similar to those I have noticed as being strewed over the fossil cliffs of the Murray.  It appeared to me as I rode over some of the flats that the drainage was to the south, but it was exceedingly difficult in so level and monotonous a region to form a satisfactory opinion.  We saw several emus in the course of the day, and a solitary crow, but scarcely any other of the feathered tribe.  There was an universal sameness in the vegetation, if I except the angophora, growing on the sand hills and superseding the acacia.

On the 18th the morning was very cold, with the wind at cast, and a cloudy sky.  We started at eight; and after crossing three very high sand ridges, descended into a plain of about three miles in breadth, extending on either hand to the north and south for many miles.  At the further extremity of this plain we observed a line of box-trees, lying, or rather stretching, right across our course; but as they were thicker to the S.W. than at the point towards which we were riding, I sent Flood to examine the plain in that direction.  In the mean time Mr. Browne and I rode quietly on; and on arriving at the trees, found that they were growing in the broad bed of a creek, and were overhanging a beautiful sheet of water, such as we had not seen for many a day.  It was altogether too important a feature to pass without further examination; I therefore crossed, and halted on its west bank, and as soon as Flood returned, (who had not seen any water,) but had ascertained that just below the trees, the creek spreads over the plain, I sent him with Mr. Browne to trace it up northward, the fall of the country apparently being from that point.  In the meantime we unloaded the horses, and put them out on better grass than they had had for some time.  On the opposite side of the creek, and somewhat above us, there were two huts, and the claws of crayfish were scattered about near them.  There were also a few wild fowl and Haemantopus sitting on the water, either unconscious of or indifferent to our presence.  This fine sheet of water was more than 60 yards broad by about 120 long, but, as far as we could judge, it was shallow.