Explorations in Australia | Page 9

the burial. It being so late in the day (12 o'clock),
and the horses requiring more water, and he having four men besides
himself, I do not see that I can be of any use, and it might cause me to
lose another day, and the horses to be another night without water,
which would be an injury to them, they not having had sufficient this
morning. Mr. B. also sent to say that he would accompany me to the
Elizabeth. I have delayed an hour for him, and he has not yet made his
appearance; it being now 1 o'clock, and having to travel seventeen
miles, I can wait no longer. Started for Bottle Hill; arrived on the south
side of the hill an hour and a half before sundown, found some water
and plenty of grass; encamped for the night. Distance to-day, seventeen
miles. The former part of the journey was over very stony country; the
latter part very heavy sand hills.
Thursday, 17th June, Bottle Hill. Got on the top of Bottle Hill to take
bearings, but was disappointed; could see no hill except one, which was

either Mount Deception or Mount North-west; the bearing was 51
degrees 30 minutes. There is a small cone of stones on the top, and a
flat stone on the top of it, with the names of Louden and Burtt. From
here I saw the gum trees in the Elizabeth; course to them 325 degrees
30 minutes, seven miles to the creek. The country from the hill here is
of the very worst description--nothing but sand and salt bush.
Friday, 18th June, The Elizabeth. We must rest our horses to-day, they
have not yet recovered from their long thirst. I am quite disappointed
with this creek and the surrounding country. The water is not
permanent, it is only rain water; since we arrived yesterday it has
shrunk a great deal. There are small plains on each side from a quarter
to half a mile broad with salt bush; the hills are very stony with a little
salt bush, and destitute of timber, except the few gum-trees in the creek
and the mulga bushes in the sand hills.
Saturday, 19th June, The Elizabeth. The sky was quite overcast with
cloud during the night, and a few drops of rain fell, but of no
consequence. Started at 9.30 a.m., on a bearing of 308 degrees for six
miles; changed the bearing to 355 degrees for one mile and a half; next
bearing 328 degrees for four miles, to the north side of a dry swamp;
next bearing 4 degrees for ten miles and a half; next bearing 350
degrees for four miles to a sand hill. Camped. Distance to-day,
twenty-five miles, over a very bad country, with large fragments of a
hard flinty stone covering the surface. Salt bush with small sand hills.
No water.
Sunday, 20th June, Sand Hill. Started at 9 a.m., on a course of 25
degrees for sixteen miles. At 1 p.m., came upon a creek, in which I
thought there might be water; examined it and found two water holes,
with plenty of grass upon their banks. The water is not permanent. Our
course to-day has been across stony plains (covered on the surface with
fragments resembling hard white quartz), with sand hills about two
miles broad dividing them. The black did not know of this water; I am
very doubtful of his knowing anything of the country. The stony plains
are surrounded by high heavy sand hills, especially to the west and
north-west; I dare not attempt to get through them without rain. They
are much higher than the country that I am travelling through. It seems
as if there had been no rain for twelve months, every thing is so dried
and parched up. On further examination of the creek we have found a

large hole of clear water, with rushes growing round it; I almost think it
is permanent, and intend to run the risk of falling back upon it should I
be forced to retreat and wait for rain. The creek seems to drain the large
stony plains that we crossed; the water is three and a half feet deep, ten
yards wide, by forty yards long.
Monday, 21st June, Water Creek. Started at 9.30 a.m. on a course of 25
degrees. At a mile passed a small table-topped hill to the west of our
line; at three miles and a half crossed the creek; at four miles passed
another table-topped hill connected with the low range to the east, and
passed the first ironstone hill; at seven miles changed to 55 degrees; at
eight miles halted at a large permanent water hole (Andamoka). I can
with safety say that this is permanent; it is a