Lake Macdonald was long thought to be a continuation of Lake Amadeus, until the exploration of Tietkins in 1889 proved its isolation.

From Lake Macdonald, Carnegie, who had now three horses in his equipment, kept a more south-westerly course towards the Rawlinson Range, the endless sand-dunes still crossing his track in dreary succession.

So persistently did they rise across his path that, on one day, eighty-six of them were crossed by the caravan during a progress of eight hours.

From the Rawlinson Range they kept on the same south-west course until they struck their outward track at Alexander Spring.

A fall of rain fortunately replenished the spring shortly after the arrival of the party.