Part 19 (1/2)

1st September (Sunday)

Read prayers

2nd September

A ht us to the foot of the range, which we entered by a tolerably easy pass, and soon came upon a pool of water in a tributary to the Oakover, the mouth of which had been passed on our ascent of that river Here we halted for two hours, and then resu nuot through the ranges, and e observable froes of red drift-sand, in e party of natives were encamped upon the watercourse dohich we descended to the plain Not wishi+ng to alarm them, we passed the waterholes from which they were supplied, and proceeded a mile farther, but had in consequence to carass Carees 21 minutes 30 seconds

NATIVE HEAD-DRESS ENTER THE SANDY DESERT

3rd Septe we returned to the native encampment for water, and found that they had already deserted it, leaving ular head-dress, shaped like a helrass, the size of the head, into which were stuck ten or twelve upright twigs, brought together into a point two feet high, which oven like an open basket, with yarn hly ornamental by the wearers, but of not the least service as an article of protection for the head, either fro watered the horses, we entered the sand-plain, travelling between the ridges, which ran in straight lines parallel to each other at the distance of several hundred yards apart, the sand being thrown by the south-east gales into acute ridges thirty to sixty feet high, their direction being al to 215 p little else but triodia, with occasional patches of stunted gurass, on which were feeding flights of pigeons and a variety of parrot new to us, but which I believe to be the golden-backed parakeet (Psephotus chrysopterygius) of Gould As no water could be found, and reatly distressed, no change being observable in the country forthe only objects visible, ere obliged to have recourse to the only safe expedient of falling back and for to 510, we coed to abandon a horse of Mr Brown's, quite exhausted Camp 75

4th September

At 630 am resumed our retreat, and by noon arrived at the waterhole of the 2nd, having left two more horses behind, which, however, Mr Brown andand drove the the party to rest, I walked ten or twelvethe foot of the range, in search of water, and to ascertain if a better line of country could be found in that direction, but it continued to maintain the saully fourMr Turner and four of the party in depot, with instructions to remain there three days, and then fall back upon the Oakover, where there was , taking six of the strongest horses, sixteen days' rations and six gallons of water, and steered south-south-east along the ranges for six or eight h the plains, but was disappointed to find that they were all lost in the firstthe nu to the horses, we determined once es, which we did for fifteenus, which left us the only alternative of either pushi+ng on at all hazards to a distant range that was now just visible to the eastward, where, froeneral depression of the country, there was every reason to think a large river would be found to exist, or to ranite hills ten miles to the south, in which there was every prospect of finding water In the for would be sreat that, in the event of our failing to obtain water, we probably should not succeed in bringing back one of our horses; while, in the latter, we should have to cliuing; this course, however, involved the least aly struck south four ht Camp 76

REPULSED FOR WANT OF WATER INTENSE HEAT

7th Septeht's rest; we, however, divided three gallons of water a the ranges by noon; but we had not gone threeless than forty pounds weight, began to fail, and the load was placed upon et on more than a couple ofhim under the shade of the only tree we could find, in the hope that wethat it would be ot on to the hills, I started ahead on foot, leaving Messrs Brown and Harding to conal by fires if successful in finding water Two hours' heavy toil through the sand, under a broiling sun, brought es, where I continued to hunt up one ravine after another until 50 p, on a scanty breakfast, and without water, with the theran to tell upon me rather severely; so much so that, by the time I had tracked up my companions (who had reached the hills by 10 p for me), it was as much as I could do to carrytruly wretched, and I was convinced that the only chance of saving the our pack-saddles, provisions, and everything we could possibly spare, and try and recover theht on the last plot of grass we could find, and proceeded toThere was still re been very sparing in the use of it; this enabled us to have a little tea and make a small quantity of damper, of which we all stood in much need Caain up Having disposed of our equip-saddles, instru thee tree, we divided a pint of water for our breakfast, and by the first peep of daere driving our famished horses before us at their best speed toward the depot, which was now thirty-two ht an to have power they flagged greatly, and it was not long before ere obliged to relinquish another horse quite unable to proceed By 90 am I found that my previous day's inning to have its effects upon me, and that it was probable I could not reach the depot until next , by which time the party left there were to fall back to the Oakover; I therefore directed Mr Broas somewhat fresher thanout fresh horses ater, while Mr Harding andhorses that could not keep up with hi to within nineun of the condition to which the horses taken on by Mr Broere reduced, by the saddles, guns, hobbles, and even bridles, scattered along the line of o on a few miles further

EFFECTS OF WANT OF WATER

9th Septeot up froiddy, but ht air In four or five miles wesucceeded in reaching the depot at 8 pht before, with only one horse We were now enabled to proceed with the tracking up of the horses left overnight, which, after resting some hours, had co on our route and recovering the saddles and firear, the stores abandoned the day before being too far off to attempt their recovery By 830 p tracked up the threetoo distant to carry relief to without incurring the risk of further loss I cannot oular effects of excessive thirst upon the eyes of the horses; they absolutely sunk into their heads until there was a hollow of sufficient depth to entirely bury the thuh the whole of the head had shrunk with thehastly expression Depot camp

10th September

We were only able to move the camp a mile to another waterhole, for the sake of a little better feed Bivouac

COMMENCE RETURN JOURNEY