sprung up the sky had become overcast, and we were threatened with
a thunderstorm; rain was evidently falling in the west and
north-west, but the sky partially cleared in the evening without
our receiving any. Flashes of distant lightning were visible
towards the north. During the night, the thunderstorm from the
north approached sufficiently near for thunder to be distinctly
heard; the flashes of lightning were painfully brilliant, although
so far away. The storm passed to the south-east without reaching
us; the sky remained overcast until between eight and nine A.M.,
since when it has been quite clear; the temperature of air, which
at sunrise was as low as 72 degrees, has reached a maximum of 92
degrees: it is at present 89 degrees, and that of the surface of
the water in the creek 78 degrees. Two other thunderstorms have
passed over since we have been on the creek, from only one of which
we have received any rain worth mentioning.

Mr. Brahe, who remains here in charge of the depot, and from whom I
have received great assistance both in making meteorological
observations and in the filling in of feature surveys, will keep a
regular meteorological register. I have handed over to him for that
purpose an aneroid barometer, Number 21,543, and four thermometers,
two for dry and wet bulb observations, and the others for
temperature of water, etc.

With regard to hot winds, the direction of the sand-ridges would
seem to indicate a prevalence of east and west winds here rather
than of northerly.

WILLIAM J. WILLS,