Narrative Of The Overland Expedition Of The Messrs. Jardine, From Rockhampton To Cape York, Northern Queensland By Frank Jardine And Alexander Jardine
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After Travelling
16 Miles Further On The New Bearing, They Camped Without Water, Being
Unable To Reach The Large Creek They Had Camped On The Previous
Night.
The country along the last course was of the same
description, low, sandy, string-bark, and tea-tree ridges, without a
vestige of water; total distance 38 miles.
'November' 1. - Making another early start, and steering S.W. by S.,
the party reached the creek in four miles, and getting a copious
drink for themselves and their thirsty horses, breakfasted off some
"opossums and rubbish" they got out of a black's camp. The stream
was 100 yards wide, and well-watered, a great relief after their arid
journey of yesterday: large rocks of sandstone occurred inits bed in
different places. Crossing it, they followed down its left bank for
8 miles, its trend being N.W., then turning their back on it, they
steered due south to strike Byerley Creek. Sixteen miles of weary
travelling over wretched barren country brought them to a small sandy
creek, on which they camped, procuring water for their horses by
digging in its bed. Here they made a supper of the lightest, their
rations being exhausted, and "turned in" somewhat disgusted with the
gloomy prospect for the progress of the cattle. They again met with
the nonda of Leichhardt, and ate of its ripe fruit, which is best
when found dry under the trees. Its taste is described as like that
of a boiled mealy potatoe.
'November' 2. - Continuing on the same course, due south for 18
miles, over the same useless country, the party reached Byerley
Creek, striking it at a point 32 miles below the Rendezvous Camp,
then turning up its course they followed it for 16 miles, to their
hunting camp of the 26th October. Here they camped and made what
they deemed a splendid supper off an oppossum, an iguana, and four
cod-fish, the result of their day's sport. Total distance travelled
28 miles.
'November' 3. - Following up the creek for 16 miles, the party
reached the main camp on the lagoons early in the day. Here they
found all right, with the exception that most of the party were
suffering from different stages of sandy-blight, or ophthalmia. A
calf was killed, and the hungry vanguard were solaced with a good
feed of veal. Byerley Creek having been found utterly destitute of
grass, badly watered, and moreover trending ultimately to the S. of
W., the Leader determined to take the cattle on to the next, which
was well watered, having some feed on it, and being on the right
course. There were, however, two long stages without water; but it
was, on the whole, the best and almost only course open to him. The
cattle had made this camp in two stages from the Einasleih. It was,
consequently, No. LI. The latitude was found to be 17 degrees 23
minutes 24 seconds: a tree was marked with these numbers, in
addition to the usual initial and numbers.
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