We Proceeded Directly To The Fords Of The North Arm Of Botany Bay,
Which We Had Crossed In Our Last Expedition, On The Banks Of Which We Were
Compelled To Wait Until A Quarter Past Two In The Morning, For The Ebb
Of The Tide.
As these passing-places consist only of narrow slips of ground,
on each side of which are dangerous holes;
And as fording rivers in the night
is at all times an unpleasant task, I determined before we entered the water,
to disburthen the men as much as possible; that in case of stepping wrong
every one might be as ready, as circumstances would admit, to recover himself.
The firelock and cartouche-box were all that we carried, the latter tied fast
on the top of the head, to prevent it from being wetted. The knapsacks,
etc. I left in charge of a sergeant and six men, who from their low stature
and other causes, were most likely to impede our march, the success of which
I knew hinged on our ability, by a rapid movement, to surprise the village
before daybreak.
The two rivers were crossed without any material accident: and in pursuit
of my resolution, I ordered the guides to conduct us by the nearest route,
without heeding difficulty, or impediment of road. Having continued to
push along the river-bank very briskly for three quarters of an hour,
we were suddenly stopped by a creek, about sixty yards wide, which extended
to our right, and appeared dry from the tide being out:
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 114 of 247
Words from 30614 to 30872
of 66960
