On the second day he was partly successful, finding an isolated waterhole, surrounded by conglomerate rocks.

This he called Frew's Pond; and it is now a well-known camping-place for travellers on the overland telegraph line.
Past this spot he was not able to make any progress.

Twice he made strenuous but vain efforts to reach some tributary of the Victoria River.
He then spent many days riding through dense mulga and hedgewood scrub.
At length, after much hope deferred, finding a few scanty waterholes that did not serve the purpose he had in view, he succeeded in striking the head of a chain of ponds running in a northerly direction.

These being followed down, led him to the head of the creek now called Daly Waters Creek, and finally to the large waterhole on which the present telegraph station bearing the name of Daly Waters, stands.

The creek was then lost in a swamp, and Stuart was unable to find the channel where it reformed, which has since been named the Birdum.