Hamre and Pittendrigh decide they are too weak to carry on east and their best bet is to return to the known water on the Dashwood, they retrace their tracks and arrive by mid afternoon and set about building a bough shelter against the fierce sun. the men are starving and celebrate Xmas with a malted milk tablet each. they make plans for tomorrow to return to the camp of the 22nd and recover the tins of meat they discarded on the 23rd.

Taylor and Johns and their Aboriginal camelman enjoy an isolated Xmas at Illbilla, the day is spent in a desultory fashion waiting for news of any sort and making preparations for Johns return to Hermannsburg with the bad news.

An unusual late start for the Endeavour team, nearly 8.00 a.m. yet and the Christmas spirits smile on them with a cool southerly breeze, welcome relief after yesterday and so to breakfast, salmon rissoles, morning tea, devilled kidneys and mince meat tart by Bailey who surpasses this effort at tea with a Xmas pudding, a sultana and currant duff with generous dash of rum and strong coffee complete with sixpences and threepences. Mick finds the money.

Lasseter spends Christmas at his reef, as one would.