About four o'clock the men with the
dray-horses arrived, bringing ten gallons of water, which we divided
among the horses, and then took it in turn to watch them during the
night.
December 13. - Having buried a few things that I might require when I
should come out here again, (for I determined not to give up the attempt
to round the Great Bight,) I had all the rest of our luggage taken up,
and the horses being harnessed, we returned with the dray to the water at
the sand-hills, arriving there early in the afternoon. We had yoked up
three strong fresh horses, that had done no work for some time
previously; and yet, such was the nature of the country, that with an
almost empty dray, they had hardly been able to reach the water, at the
furthest only twenty-two miles distant, and in accomplishing this, they
had been upwards of ten hours in the collar. How then could we expect to
get through such a region with drays heavily loaded, as ours must be,
when we moved on finally.
On the 14th we remained in camp to refresh the horses, and early on the
following day proceeded through the scrub, on our return to the depot;
first burying our pack-saddle, and a few other things, in the plain near
the sand-hills. Notwithstanding the care we had taken of the horses, and
the little work we had given them, they got fagged in going through the
scrub, and I was obliged to halt the dray at the rocky well in the
plains, five miles short of the depot. I myself went on with the boy to
the camp at Point Fowler, where I found the party feasting upon emus,
four of which they had shot during my absence.
December 16. - About ten to-day the dray and men arrived safely at the
depot, being the last detachment of the party engaged in this most
unfortunate expedition, which had occupied so much time and caused such
severe and fatal loss, independently of its not accomplishing the object
for which it was undertaken. In the evening I sent Mr. Scott to see if
the cutter had returned, and upon his coming back he reported that she
had just arrived, but that he had not been able to communicate with her.
Chapter XIII.
FUTURE PLANS - REDUCE THE NUMBER OF THE PARTY - SEND THE CUTTER TO
ADELAIDE - REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR - MONOTONOUS LIFE AT CAMP - REMOVE TO
ANOTHER LOCALITY - GEOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY - FLINT FOUND - AGAIN
ATTEMPT TO REACH THE HEAD OF THE BIGHT - REACH THE SAND HILLS, AND BURY
FLOUR - FRIENDLY NATIVES - EXHAUSTED STATE OF THE HORSES - GET THE DRAY TO
THE PLAIN - BURY WATER - SEND BACK DRAY - PROCEED WITH
PACK-HORSE - OPPRESSIVE HEAT - SEND BACK PACK-HORSE - REACH THE HEAD OF THE
BIGHT - SURPRISE SOME NATIVES - THEIR KIND BEHAVIOUR - YEER-KUMBAN
KAUEE - THEIR ACCOUNT OF THE INTERIOR.
