with which they seemed pleased. To the old man for his honesty I gave a
tomahawk with which he appeared highly pleased--his name was Mootielina;
the thief I could not find out, or would have given him his deserts
likewise. They did not muster very strong this morning, only about 100;
but numbers of others were visible all round the lake at the different
camps. They all appeared very civil, whether from fear or naturally I
could not guess. Started bearing 40 degrees, passing north-west arm of
lake three-quarters of a mile; then a bearing of 100 degrees. At
three-quarters of a mile cleared the timber that surrounds the water-mark
of lake; then began to ascend the sandhills which were very soft, high
and steep, for about half a mile or little more, to the highest of them
on same course. Changed course to 85 degrees, descending the various
sandhills for about a mile; then alternate flooded flats with timber
(box) and polygonum, and sandhills, till arrived at a water close by my
course home yesterday, and within three-quarters of a mile of where I
intended to fix the camp as depot; and which will suit the purpose very
well, having sufficient water and abundance of grass on a large flooded
flat immediately east of, and running north and south. Distance travelled
on last course six and a half miles, total distance eight and a half
miles to Careri Creek, which seems to flow from the west of north, or
nearly north and south; but name of waterhole is Wantula Depot.

Thursday, October 17.

At depot making arrangements for a start; out in search of the water the
whites are supposed to be at. I will take with me Mr. Hodgkinson,
Middleton, and a native of this country, Bulingani (who seems to say he
knows something of the whites) four camels, three horses, one hundred and
sixty pounds of flour, thirty-two pounds of sugar, four pounds of tea,
eleven pounds of bacon, and some little necessary, etc., for persons