Dec. 6.—­After a fine night, we had a cold morning with heavy dew.  From the hills near the camp, Mount Nicholson bore N. 30 degrees W. and Aldis’s Peak due north; Bigge’s Range was in sight to the eastward.

The horses had gone back to Ruined Castle Creek, about twenty-one miles distant; and the bullocks to our last camp, which, according to Charley, had been visited by the Blackfellows, who had apparently examined it very minutely.  It was evident that they kept an eye upon us, although they never made their appearance.  Our allowance of flour was now reduced from six pounds to five.

Dec. 7.—­We travelled down Zamia Creek.  The bed of the creek, though lined with many casuarinas, was entirely dry, and we did not reach a water-hole until we had travelled a distance of nine miles from the camp.  Hoping that the supply of water would increase, I travelled on ward, leaving Mount Nicholson about six miles to the left.  As we proceeded, the flats along the creek increased in size; and we entered a level country (which seemed unbounded towards the north-east) covered with silver-leaved Ironbark, box, and flooded-gum.  We passed a large scrubby creek, coming from Mount Nicholson, and a considerable watercourse from Aldis’s Peak.  On the latter, we found a fine water-hole, at which we encamped.  We started a great number of kangaroos; but, unfortunately, they all escaped.  The whole country was full of game.

Whilst preparing to proceed on a RECONNOISSANCE of the neighbourhood, Charley, who had been sent for my horse, returned at full gallop, and told me that Blackfellows were spearing our horses.  Fortunately Messrs. Gilbert and Calvert had just come in; and, mounting our horses, three of us hastened to the place where Charley had seen the Blacks, leaving the remainder of our party to defend the camp.  We found one of our horses had been deeply wounded in the shoulder; but fortunately, the others were unhurt, and were grazing quietly.  Charley saw two Blackfellows retreating into the scrub, but had seen a great number of them when he first came to the place.  This event, fortunately not a very disastrous one, was so far useful, as it impressed every one with the necessity of being watchful, even when the Blackfellows were not suspected to be near.

The latitude of our camp was 24 degrees 54 minutes 19 seconds, and about seven miles from our last camp.  Aldis’s Peak bore N.W. by W., distant two miles and a half; and I found that it was surrounded by a dense scrub.  After following Zamia Creek for some miles, I turned to the left, and travelled about north-north-west, when the scrub opened, and we came upon open ridges, and, at about a mile and a half from the river, found some fine lagoons.  The ridges, which are spurs of Aldis’s Peak and Expedition Range, disappear in the level country to the north-east.  Farther on to the north-north-west, I passed some fine plains, having the black soil, the vegetation, the dry creeks and watercourses, of Darling Downs.  Thick scrub seems to extend all along the foot of the range, from Aldis’s Peak to Mount Nicholson.  Both these mountains are composed of basalt, containing numerous crystals of peridot.