We encamped early, after a short stage of fifteen miles, having gradually left most of the hills to the north of us.

One that we were encamped under I ascended, and had a very extensive view, and took many angles.

A large lake (named Lake Gilles) [Note 22: After the first Colonial Treasurer of the province.] bore nearly due south, and was the same that had been seen from Baxter's range; the latter was now distinctly visible at a bearing of E.20 degrees S.The latitude of our camp was 32 degrees 35 minutes 58 seconds S.There was barely enough rain water found to supply our horses, but the feed was tolerably good.
September 27 .-- We had a very bad stony road to-day, consisting principally of quartz and iron-stone, of which the ranges had latterly been entirely composed.

Our stage was sixteen miles, passing round the south end of Baxter's range, and encamping under it, on the eastern front, upon a gorge, in which was plenty of water and good grass.

We had thus, by taking advantage of the rains that had fallen, been enabled to force a passage from Streaky Bay to Spencer's Gulf; but we had done so with much difficulty, and had we been but a few days later, we should have failed altogether, for though travelling for a great part of the distance under very high rocky ranges, we never found a drop of permanent fresh-water nor a single spring near them.