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we found some ponds - and crossed the bed of the stream (which may be called Nuzabella) with the drays &c - to encamp at a sh[aded] spot - clean of long grass - The day was excessively hot 96º in the shade - and the bullocks were much fatigued - We encamped about 3 oc.k. - at sunset the therm.r. was at 90º! and during the first part of the night the heat continued - The spot [?] the camp was free from long grass from having been burnt [?] time before - in other parts the grass was up to the horses eyes - [?] in this dry season, when it is so frequently set on fire  by the bla[cks] and might have been by ourselves in cooking - I found it a subject requiring some attention - especially as we had no [?] gunpowder - This I had all placed in the light cart carrying my tent &c - which stood always close to my tent in this [?] isolated clear spot to be found - Just as it became twi[light?] I inquired as usual if the horses had been all  tethered or [?] when I was informed that seven had set off (!) - and that one of the men (Worthington) who was after them had not then returned - This was the more annoying as I then only learnt that Mr White's horse, a notorious runaway, had been untied & been unspancelled for the last three nights - chiefly because [mine?] had been as mine being a quiet horse which always [?] any other - and no doubt readily joined Mr White's - This was a most vexing piece of intelligence, but as the [weather?] had been appropriately hot during the whole journey - I determined then on halting [?] day - without however making my intention known then - I promised the black - a clasp knife if he would fine them - and went to sleep - after ordering all the good bush hands to  be off in search at daybreak - Carpenter shot 2 [ducks?]

Wednesday 7 Decr. - Very hot - At 1/4 past 8 - the horses were brought into the camp by Wm. Worthington who had traced them up the valley to 2 miles above our former encampment. They also found a good road from that spot, which was but 7 miles from here - along the valley - so much for following the black or rather suffering the men to talk to them about stations, for they were leading us to the nearest station altho. that happened to be quite out of my way - This valley is composed of a deep mass of alluvial soil or diluvial soil - how [?]

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