There were a good many
delays during the march, chiefly to pull the exhausted horses out of
the constantly recurring bogs. Poor "Lady Scott" especially was with
great difficulty got into camp. Distance 10 miles, N. 1/2 E. (Camp
LXXXVII. Bloodwood)
'February' 19. - To-day was chiefly devoted to rest, and the cutting
up, jerking, and smoking of the beef by the whites, the black-boys,
after the manner of their race, dividing it pretty equally between
sleeping and stuffing. The meat curing was as usual a slow process,
there being no salt, and a gunyah having to be made to smoke it in.
The river was here first observed to have a rise and fall in it of
about six inches. Its width was about a quarter of a mile.
The latitude of this camp (87) is 11 degrees 11 minutes 13 seconds
The latitude of camp (82) is 10 degrees 58 minutes 2 seconds
The Northing therefore equals 13 minutes 11 seconds
'February' 20. - It commenced to rain at two o'clock this morning,
and continued heavily as the party started. The river again turned
to the Westward, to their great disappointment.