Sighting a granite range to the eastward, they made towards it, but the outlook from its summit brought nothing but exceeding disappointment.

Fortunately the weather was showery, and the lack of water did not induce such keen anxiety as the total absence of grass.
Still pushing to the eastward, they found their difficulties increase at every step.

To the perils of travel through dense thickets and over barren, scorching plains, there was now added the risk of death from thirst.

It was not until after days of extreme privation that they reached some elevated peaks, where they obtained a little grass and water.
Their course lay now to the south-east, towards the range sighted by Eyre, and named the Russell Range, and there commenced a desperate struggle with the intervening desert.
So weak were the horses and so compact the belts of scrub, that in three days they had traversed only fifty miles.

After being four days and three nights without water for the horses, they reached a rugged hill which they named Mount Riley, where they were relieved by a scant supply.
Thence it was but fifty miles to the Russell Range, but the journey involved a repetition of the worst sufferings they had endured.