Flood’s quick sight — forest full of birds — native well — birds collect to drink — dangerous plain — Flood’s horse lost — scarcity¹ of water — turn northward² — discover a large creek³ — bright prospects⁴ — sudden disappointment — salt lagoon⁵ — scarcity of water — salt water creek — character of the interior — forced to turn back — risk of advancing — the furthest north — return to and examination of the creek — proceed to the westward⁶ — dreadful country — journey to the north — again forced to return — natives — station on the creek — concluding remarks.

Reflecting on the singular character of the country below me, as I stood on the pointed⁷ termination of the ridge⁸ the party had just ascended⁹, I could not but think how fortunate it was we had not found it in a wet state, for in such a case to cross it would have been impossible. I felt assured indeed, from the moment we set foot on it, that in the event of rain, while we should be in the more distant interior, return would be altogether impracticable, but we had neither time to pause on, or provide against, the consequences of any heavy fall that might have set in. I do not think that this flashed across the minds of any of the party excepting my own, who would not have been justified¹⁰ in leading men forward as I was doing, without weighing every probable chance of difficulty or success.

As the line of the sand

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