McKinlays Journal of Exploration in the Interior of Australia | Page 4

clay a short distance from the lake for water for their
use. Appear friendly, and we saw about 200 of them--more rather than
under that number, and looking remarkably healthy. Camped,
surrounded by them on all sides except the lake side about 300 yards
off. One of the camels got bogged and narrowly escaped. We kept
watch and watch during the night, sending the native who was with us
to camp with the blacks, who gave us some fish.

Saturday, October 12.
Up early and returned to camp. Found it deserted in consequence of
instructions given to Mr. Hodgkinson previous to departure--that he
was to examine the creek southward; and in the event of his finding
good feed and water (which at the camp were both indifferent) to
remove the camp at once, which he found, and consequently removed,
leaving me a memo at an appointed place of his distance and direction,
which was about one and a half miles south and west. Two of the
working bullocks got off during my absence, and before they were
overtaken by the blackfellow (Frank) on horseback, they had got down
south as far as Lake Hope; so he reported on arrival.
Sunday, October 13.
Today I started Palmer and Jack on horseback to look after Frank and
the bullocks, when they met with the bullocks coming back on their
tracks; preparing for a start tomorrow, carrying a supply of water; name
of our present camp, a fine long sheet of water, Wankadunnie; bears
220 degrees from the camp retreated from.
Monday, October 14.
Started with bullock-dray at 6.30 on a bearing of 18 degrees; after the
first nine and a half miles travelled over undulating country of sand,
dry flats, and flooded ground. From the top of the highest sandhill at
that distance the whole country, particularly to the eastward, is one
mass of flooded timbered flats and subject to awful inundations; at
those times it must be quite impracticable--the main creek (apparently)
upon our right varying from one or two and a half miles in width, with
patches of young trees across its bed and sides. If this country had
permanent water and rain occasionally it would do well for stock of any
kind--having a fair sprinkling of grass compared with anything of late
seen; and at fourteen miles on a bearing of 18 degrees came to, and
crossed at an angle, the bed of a small dry lake (with lots of fine grass)
or watercourse half a mile wide. When rain has fallen on this country it
is difficult to say; most of the herbs and grass and shrubs as dry as
tinder and will ignite at once--but is much more open and fit for pasture.
At sixteen miles on same bearing crossed the bed of salt lake, now dry
and of no great extent, running north and south in an extensive flat;
spelled and had a pot of tea. Then on a bearing of 357 degrees for nine
and a half miles to camp on west side of Siva Lake, or Perigundi Lake;

found it exceedingly boggy; and what I supposed was clover, as seen in
the distance at my former visit, was nothing but young samphire; little
or no grass; watered the horses out of a canvas by buckets; whole
distance twenty-five and a half miles; all arrived at about 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 15.
Anxious to get off to the place reported by the natives as the abode of
the white man, or men; and finding this lake won't suit as a depot till
my return, on account of its boggy nature and scarcity of feed, I started
today to endeavour to find a place suitable for that purpose, and
travelled over alternate heavy and high sandhills and flooded wooded
polygonum flats with a few grassy patches. At eleven miles on a
bearing of about 83 1/2 degrees came to a lake, Cudye-cudyena; plenty
of grass and clover but the water all but dried up, a few inches only
being around its margin; all the centre and south end and side being a
mudbank--but thought it would do by digging. On my way back came
on a creek with sufficient water and grass, though dry, to suit the
purpose, at two miles, and pushed on to camp. A strange circumstance
occurred this evening, showing isolated instances of gratitude and
honesty of the natives. In the evening after my return a number of
natives were near the camp; amongst them, just as they were about to
depart, I observed an elderly man and his son, a boy of eight to ten
years who appeared to be an invalid and was about to be carried off by
the father. I stopped him and, as I was at supper, gave the youth