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140

ASCENT FROM THE RAVINE.

was intermingled with trees of a denser foliage, and on each side we looked down into two deep ravines ; through the dense dark foliage of which could be seen the white foaming waters brawling on their way far below.

The next day was occupied in bringing up the remainder of the stores from the ravine, and repairing the damages which had resulted from the bursting of bags and other mischief in their transit over such rough ground. Early in the morning, we all had a good bathe, and only those who have been so constantly engaged under a burning sun, and for upwards of a week without regularly washing or undressing, can at all estimate the pleasure with which I plunged into the clear and rapid stream. After thus performing our ablutions we breakfasted, and then, whilst the stores were being conveyed to the table land, I started, accompanied by one man, to explore a route for our line of march next day. After continuing on the table land for about a mile, I traced a good route both into and out of another ravine; the stream which occupied the bed of this was so swollen, that I had some difficulty in finding a ford across it; but after a few rather ludicrous plunges and falls upon the green slippery rocks, I succeeded in detecting a tolerably good one. line of route now lay across some elevated open plains, clothed with spinifex, and thinly wooded with a large species of Eucalyptus. We saw here numerous signs of the natives, who had been cutting steps in the trees for the purpose of hunting opos

Our

sums.

EXHAUSTION FROM FATIGUE-COLD RAINS. 141

These open plains extended for about two miles, and we then reached another small ravine, with a rapid stream running through it. A very good route brought us across this slight descent and stream; and from this point no further impediment of

any consequence appeared to lie in our way. The direction in which I now wished to travel presented a series of rocky, sandy plains, thinly wooded, and affording a scanty sufficiency of food for the ponies.

During the time I was searching for this route, the rain had fallen in torrents, and the quantity of ground I had walked over was so considerable, that I was exhausted; riding was quite impossible in these excursions, as in many places where the ground was covered with loose rocks, overgrown with a vegetation which concealed treacherous cavities, it was necessary to pass across it two or three times before I could determine whether a horse could move over it or not. To-day I found myself completely knocked up, and I felt certain that I could not for many days longer bear up against such continued fatigues. On my return to the camp, I found all prepared for a start to-morrow; but many of the horses were so ill as to be incapable of carrying more than half a load.

February 10.-We moved off at daybreak, and having reached the ravine, set to work to form a pathway down the descent, and up the ascent on the other side, under the additional disadvantage of heavy rain. The sudden transition from the of a burning sun to this cold bath made my teeth

rays

142

WORST DIFFICULTIES SURMOUNTED.

chatter as if I had a tertian ague. When half our work was completed, we breakfasted in the beautiful ravine, amidst the dark luxuriant vegetation of the tropics, formed by the pandanus, bamboo, and palm. After breakfast, the men recommenced their labour on the road. About two P.M. it was completed, and we then loaded the ponies and set out. The poor animals were, however, so weak, that it was almost impossible to get them to move; they stumbled and fell repeatedly, and thus thereby not only injured themselves, but so delayed our movements, that we only made three miles and a half during the day, and then halted for the night on very elevated land, and in a good position, for we were on a little sandy rise, along the base of which ran a stream, distant about one hundred yards.

Having thus gained the elevated plains, I laid down to sleep, satisfied that the worst of our labours were over; yet I could not but recollect that it had taken us ten days to reach a spot which by the proper route was only a short day's journey from the valley we were first encamped in, and that in our march through the country we had been compelled to traverse, we had lost seven ponies, and injured many of those remaining; all these difficulties arose from our departure having been delayed so long, that the rains had set in and so flooded the country, that we could not proceed by the proper

route.

CHAPTER VIII.

TO THE GLENELG RIVER.

MEETING AND ENCOUNTER WITH THE NATIVES UNFORTUNATE RESULTS-DESCENT FROM THE SANDSTONE RANGEDESCRIPTION OF A NEW VOLCANIC COUNTRY-DISCOVERY AND CHARACTER OF THE GLENELG RIVER-IMPEDIMENTS FROM MARSHES AND STREAMS-PROGRESS TOWARDS THE UPPER PART OF THE GLENELG.

February 11.-THE stores we had left behind yesterday were so necessary to us, that I was fearful they might be injured or destroyed if left exposed in the bush beyond to-day, and therefore despatched a party, under Mr. Lushington, for them.

Some time after they were gone, I started from the encampment on foot, with the intention of choosing a track for our route next day, as well as of endeavouring to fall in with my former track in this direction; for by so doing I should be enabled to get the party on the good land without further impediment, and at the same time to complete my map of this part of the country.

I was accompained by Corporal Coles and a finelooking young man about twenty years of age, from the Cape of Good Hope, leaving three men at the camp. Soon after my departure, these men heard the voices of natives in the woods, and presently they appeared themselves in numbers which rapidly in

144 GATHERING OF NATIVES ABOUT THE CAMP.

creased until there were collected together about two hundred men, women, and children. The party at the tents instantly got under arms, and posted themselves on the brow of the hill, on which our tents stood; whilst at some distance from its base, and on the opposite side of the stream, the natives were assembled.

The advance of a large armed body from the woods, seemed now to indicate that a hostile movement was about to be made; one of my party therefore shouted out to them in a threatening tone, motioning to them at the same time to go away. The natives immediately answered the shout, then halted, and after apparently consulting together for some time, retired a little. The party at the tents simultaneously took counsel together, and agreeing that it would be imprudent in their small number to hold intercourse, under the existing circumstances, with so large a body of natives, it was resolved not to allow them to approach beyond a certain point, and in the event of any armed portion passing the stream towards the tents in disregard of their signals, then to fire on them one by one.

In the meantime, the women and little children moved round the hill, examining every thing with the most intense delight: a pony which was in front of the camp more particularly excited their attention; the little children laughed loudly at it, and appeared also to laugh at the party themselves, regarding them much the same way that little boys do a stranger in foreign costume, when he appears

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