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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The Last Two Miles Were Very Boggy, Even The Fresh And
Well-Conditioned Horses Getting Stuck Occasionally.
'March' 6.
- The camp was reached in the evening of to-day, at the
end of about 22 miles, but the black pilots were of very little use,
as shortly after starting they fairly got out of their latitude, and
were obliged to resign the lead to the Brothers, who hit the river a
little before dark, nearly opposite the camp. They found it about
the same height as when first crossed, but it had been considerably
higher during their absence. It being too late to cross, the party
camped on their own side, and Messrs. Harricome and Monuwah swam over
to see the new strangers and get a supply of beef. They returned
with nearly a shoulder of a good sized steer, which entirely
disappeared before morning, the whole night being devoted to feeding.
The quantity of meat that a hungry native can consume is something
astounding, but in this case beat anything that any of the whole
party had ever seen. The natural result was a semi-torpor and a
perfectly visible distention.
'March' 7. - This morning the Brothers crossed over to the camp,
when they had the satisfaction of finding, on counting the cattle,
that a number were away, and when the horses were tried, two of them
were found missing, besides one that had died during their absence,
"Lady Scott." They were immediately sent for, and the remainder of
the party employed in preparing for the crossing, and killing a
beast. A fresh raft was made with the hide capable of carrying 400
lbs. weight. The two Somerset blacks evinced a great deal of
surprise at sight of the cattle, and expressed it by chirping and
making various curious noises with their tongues and mouths.
Accustomed chiefly to fish, herbs, and roots, the succulent beef had
charms which outweighed surprise, and another night was spent in
feasting on the "oddments" of the fresh killed beef.
'March' 8. - The missing cattle and horses were brought in with the
exception of three, which prevented the party crossing to-day,
although all was now in readiness. The river was still 200 yards
wide, and running strongly, so that it was expedient to cross the
whole together.
'March' 9. - The three missing cattle not having been found, the
crossing operations were commenced at mid-day. The width and
appearance of the river made it difficult to make the cattle face it,
but they were all safely crossed after a little time, with the
exception of one, which broke away, and could not be recovered. The
pack-horses were then put over, which was easily accomplished, and it
then only remained to cross the packs and baggage. The raft answered
admirably, and everything was ferried over in safety, till the last
cargo, when a little adventure occurred, which nearly cost the life
of one of the party. Cowderoy, being unable to swim, had to be taken
across holding on to the raft, and was, therefore, left to the last;
all went well with him until within 30 yards of the bank, when,
whether from trepidation, induced by visions of alligators (with
which the river indeed abounds), or from an attempt to strike out
independently, he "succeeded" in upsetting and sinking the raft, and
was with some difficulty got to the shore "quitte pour la peur." In
truth it requires some nerve for a man who can't swim to cross a wide
and rapid river. Without a confiding trust in the means adopted for
his transport, a catastrophe is not an unlikely result. The writer
has known instances of persons crossing broad rivers supported by a
spear held between two blacks, by holding on to a bullock's tail, and
even sitting on a horse's back, but in every case the success of the
attempt depends almost entirely on the coolness of the individual,
and even with this essential, he has known some fatal cases, so that
Cowderoy might congratulate himself on his safe transit. The packs,
etc., which formed the last cargo, were recovered after some time,
the distance from the shore being slight, and Cowderoy soon recovered
his accustomed good humor. By four o'clock everything had been
crossed in safety, save the four beasts before mentioned; but on
camping for the night it was found that the guides had decamped,
their unwonted high feeding, having, no doubt, induced an
indisposition to work, a result not confined to blacks alone.
'March' 10. - This morning the "Cowal," or watercourse, which had
detained the Brothers on their first trip, had to be swum over, and
here poor Ginger, one of the horses, got hopelessly bogged, and
though got out and put on his legs with saplings, was too exhausted
to go on,and had to be abandoned. The distance accomplished was 11
miles.
'March' 11. - The line marked by Mr. Jardine was followed to-day. A
scrub occurred on a creek called Wommerah Creek, through which it
took two hours to drive the cattle. Only 10 miles were made, and the
camp was pitched at about 4 miles from the mouth of the creek where
the corroboree was held. Three horses were knocked up during the
day, which prevented their gotting as far as intended.
'March' 12. - On counting the cattle it was found that 30 head had
been dropped in coming through the scrub at Wommerah Creek. Two of
the black-boys were sent after them, and the Brothers went out to
find a crossing-place over Ranura Creek, (their last camp in
Somerset.) Here they met the same tribe, (known as Wognie's,) and
bartered "bacca" and "bissika," against "moro wappi," or fish, with
which the camp was plentifully supplied in the evening. The cattle
were recovered all but five. The country is described as being
composed of ridges of white and red sand, intersected by swamps of
tea-tree, pandanus, and banksia, the crest of the ridges being
generally surmounted by a patch of scrub.
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