About two o’clock, P.M. we passed a little grass, and as the day appeared likely to become rainy, I halted for the night.  Leaving the native boy to hobble the horses, I took my gun and ascended one of the hills near me for a view.  Lake Torrens was visible to the west, and Mount Deception to the N.W. but higher hills near me, shut out the view in every other direction.  In descending, I followed a little rocky gully leading to the main watercourse, and to my surprise and joy, discovered a small but deep pool of water in a hole of the rock:  upon sounding the depth, I found it would last us some time, and that I might safely bring on my party thus far, until I could look for some other point for a depot still farther north; the little channel where the water was, I named Depot Pool.

Regaining the camp, I immediately set to work with the native boy to construct a bough hut, as the weather looked very threatening.  We had hardly completed it before the rain came down in torrents, and water was soon laying every where in the ledges of rock in the bed of the watercourse.  So little do we know what is before us, and so short a time is necessary to change the aspect of affairs, and frequently too, when we least expect it!

July 14.—­Our hut not having been quite water-tight before the rain came, we got very wet during the night, and turned out early this morning to go and hunt for firewood to warm ourselves.

As the weather still continued rainy, I determined to give our horses a day’s rest, whilst I walked up the watercourse to examine it farther.  I found the hills open a good deal more as I proceeded, with nice grassy valleys between; and the hills themselves, though high and steep, were rounded at the summits, and richly clothed with vegetation:  among them numerous watercourses took their rise in the gorges, and generally these were well marked by gum-trees.  Altogether it was a pretty and fertile spot, and though very hilly, would do well for stock, if permanent water could be found near.  I was quite unsuccessful, however, in my search for this, and the native boy, whom I sent in the opposite direction, after my return, was equally unfortunate.  Towards evening, one of the horses having broken his hobbles, and got alarmed, galloped off, taking the other with him.  Tired and wet as I was, I was obliged to go after them, and it was some miles from the camp, before I could overtake and turn them back.  Our latitude was 30 degrees 55 minutes S.

July 15.—­This morning was misty and clondy, and dreadfully cold.  We set off early and commenced tracing up and examining as many of the watercourses as we could; we did not, however, find permanent water.