banks of a watercourse in sight to the eastward: at 11.32 made
three-quarters of a mile north-north-west where we stopped on the plain,
and Mr. Allison made the following observation of the sun: altitude
86.45, latitude 18 degrees 0 minutes 50 seconds; started again at 12.58;
at 1.10 made one mile and a half north over fine slightly timbered downs,
but from the want of rain the grass on them was rather brown, to where we
crossed to the right bank of a watercourse (Barkly River) with high
flood-marks, but at present without water; at 1.20 made half a mile north
where we recrossed it; at 2.25 made three miles north to where we crossed
again to left side without finding water; we passed at this place a
number of blacks perched in the trees; at 3 made a quarter of a mile
north to where we stopped as we could not proceed in consequence of a
heavy thunderstorm and the bogginess of the ground; at 4.35 made quarter
of a mile south, then three-quarters of a mile northerly to where we
formed our thirty-eighth camp on the left of the main watercourse (Barkly
River).

Friday January 17. Camp Number 38. Situated on the left bank of Barkly
River.

The morning was wet so I thought that after the rain of yesterday we
could not proceed, but it cleared up between 8 and 9, and at 10.20 we
were packed up and started; at 10.45 made one mile north by east to the
tree marked Lieutenant Woods with line and broad arrow; at 12 made three
miles west to Beames Brook over richly grassed plains slightly wooded
with stunted box; at 1.30 made quarter mile south by east where we
crossed Beames Brook. We found the crossing-place a bad one; when a few
of the horses crossed it became so bad that we had to unpack and unsaddle
several before we could get them onto the firm ground on the left side of
the brook. This is the first stream of water we have crossed since we