made one mile south up the creek. At 10.43 made one mile south up the
creek. At 10.50 made a quarter of a mile south-east. At 11.8 made a
quarter of a mile north. At 11.15 made a quarter of a mile east. At 11.35
made a quarter of a mile east, general course of creek. At 11.40 made a
quarter of a mile south-east. At 11.50 made half a mile south. At 12.7
p.m. made three-quarters of a mile south. At 12.52 made two miles south.
At 1.18 made one mile south by east, to a plain with tableland of the
richest soil, and with grasses of the most fattening nature, but which at
this time are old and dry. This tableland I have named Barkly Plains,
after His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly. At 1.26 made a quarter of a mile
south by east three miles and three-quarters south to plains, to reach
which we crossed barren ridges with gullies, having an easterly course.
To the south-west not a tree was to be seen. At 3.37 made two miles and a
quarter south, with which course we skirt the left edge of Barkly Plains.
Stopped here and had some dinner. Started again at 4.15. At 4.30 p.m.
made one mile south where Fisherman shot and dressed an emu. At 5.23 we
started again. At 5.40 made three-quarters of a mile south-south-east to
a watercourse which I have named Pratt Creek. At 5.45 made a quarter of a
mile south-east down the creek to water. Proceeded about one mile
further, and then returned about halfway to where we encamped (compare
with 7th December). The grass in this neighbourhood is good, excepting of
course on the ridges, which are barren and covered with triodia. The
creek has been recently flooded, and has remaining in it, I hope,
sufficient water to last us until we find more permanent water to which
we can proceed. I think that watercourses do exist, both to the right and
left of the plain, from the general appearance of the country running
parallel to the plains.

Saturday 7th December.