December 30th. Mary Lake. Situated on the Herbert River.

As some of our horses were not able to travel as far as Camp 21, or to
any water we knew of to the northward, in one stage, without overworking
them, Jemmy and I started to try and find water in the intermediate
distance. Started at 5.55. At 6.5 made half a mile north-east to where we
stopped till 6.20; at 6.47 made one mile and a quarter north by east; at
7.10 made one mile north by west half west to Chester Creek; at 7.28 made
three-quarters of a mile about north-north-east; at 7.52 made one mile
and a half north-east up the creek; at 8 made a quarter of a mile east up
the creek; at 8.10 made half a mile east by south up the creek; at 8.38
made one mile north-east to where we left the creek, because the grass in
the bed of it was parched up, and as we saw no deep holes. It has however
high and extensive flood-marks; at 9.20 made two miles west-north-west;
at 10.26 made three miles west by south to bank of Herbert River; at
10.37 made half a mile north-north-west up the river to where we left it
to follow up the Hervey Creek; at 10.50 made half a mile about north-west
up the creek; at 11.17 made one mile about west by north up the creek. At
11.30 made half a mile south up the creek, where I went on to the plain
and took the noon altitude of the sun, which was not very satisfactory as
I did not give myself sufficient time to go far enough out on the plains.
Latitude from observation 19 degrees 53 minutes 39 seconds. Started back
without having found water at 12.27; at 12.50 made one mile south-east
back to Hervey's Creek; at 1.30 made two miles east by north to Herbert
River; at 1.40 made half a mile east-south-east down the river: at 1.45
made a quarter of a mile about south-east to the strange pit on the left
side of the river; at 2.45 made three miles to camp. Cantered the last
half mile or so and forgot to look at the watch until a short time after
our arrival.