Part 26 (1/2)

Started at 20 a been delayed by the flood tide The vessel had notthe last four tides, and the leaks had in soree stopped She was so deeply bedded in the sand that, though the bank was dry at three-quarter ebb, I could not examine her bottom The deck beams, however, were strained and broken, and it was evident that the vessel had beenon her centre, when the current had worked deep holes at the head and stern Only fifty-five sheep remained on board, and those in a ig with one month's provisions for the party at the camp; 80 pm the tide rose to five feet on the bank, but the vessel only just floated in the hollohich she lay

23rd October

At 80 am the tide rose to six feet on the bank, and the schooner was th towards the channel in shore; at 100 am the tide ebbed, and she settled on an even keel Mr Baines having informedthe schooner on the 9th, he had, therefore, put him off duty till Mr Wilson returned, on the 14th, when he was put on duty again I therefore fined hih as in theLanded to search for fresh water, and found a s on the bank of the river at the upper end of the stony beach, three and a half h-water mark, but at half tide boats can approach close to it, there being deep water close to the bank

24th October

Landed at 2 a; filled two casks and returned to the vessel at 7 At 930 the schooner floated, and we ain grounded on a bank; while afloat the puht tide we floated over the bank; but the breeze failing, she ept against the shore two and a half e could be laid out the tide fell

25th October

Thetide did not rise sufficiently to allow us to cross the banks; but the schooner arped into a better position in the channel, about one her up the river Landed the sheep and drove such as could walk to the waterhole at our ca place, oneof Dr Mueller, Mr Wilson, Overseer Humphries, and W Selby Fifty sheep were landed, but only forty-four reached the waterhole, and of these one died during the night

The night tide rose eight feet, and we ht bank of the river off Broken Hill and anchored in the channel Before the fullthe day, but as the tiht

26th October

At 100 ahed and ran up the river with the flood to the coaroo Point, when the schooner grounded on a bank Proceeded with Mr Baines in the gig to the sheep ca the sheep across the river and then driving theement was not practicable Returned to the vessel

27th October

At 3 am the vessel floated, and she was aroo Point, e anchored in three and a half fathoht breeze from the west and north till a thunder-squall from the south-east compelled us to coe of wind enabled us to move on to Sandy Island

28th October

At 2 ahed, and towed the schooner to the upper end of the spit off Sandy Island, when she grounded, but arped off at 4; the wind and tide were now adverse, and we therefore anchored in two fathoms

There is two fathoms in the channel past Sandy Island, but a reef of rocks extend from the left bank of the river, which renders it necessary to keep close to the edge of the shoal off the island

TOM TOUGH REACHES DEPOT CAMP

29th October

At 2 ahed with the flood, and towed the schooner up the river about four ht northerly breeze enabled us to stem the ebb tide, and at 940 the schooner wasobtained a supply of water, I despatched Mr Baines, with Phibbs, Shewell, and Dawson, in the gig to bring up the sheep, the long-boat also going down the river with a crew froator Island, and also to assist in bringing up the sheep In the evening there was a fine breeze fro the night A few days before our arrival one of the kangaroo dogs had been seized by an alligator, and instantly drowned The horses had been brought to the ca well

30th October

Commenced the erection of a shed to protect the stores, as it is necessary to land the cargo of the schooner to effect repairs The keelson is broken seven feet before the mainmast, three of the deck beams are broken in the centre, and the knees are strained, and the bolts drawn; there is also reason to think that the floor timbers are fractured, and some of the timbers broken in her bends

31st October