abandon a portion of their loads; and this obstinacy on their part was accompanied in some instances with the most blasphemous and horrid expressions indeed I could not conceal from myself the fact of its being the general impression, that my mode of proceeding was " killing the men," and that consequently some of them had arrived at the resolution of compelling me by their conduct to adopt their favourite system of short marches and long halts. But I was still aware of the disastrous consequences which must necessarily result from such a mode of proceeding, and determined to have nothing to do with it.

In the course of the afternoon, I managed to get the party to move about a mile and a half, in an easterly direction, but they here again sat down, and could neither be induced to walk or to part with their bundles. As they had not tasted water to-day, I selected the best walkers, viz., Corporals Auger and Coles, Hackney, Henry Woods, and Kaiber, and went off to look for some to bring to the rest. We were now on a well-beaten native path, which traversed a fertile tract of country, and along this we continued our route, walking as rapidly as we could, for night was coming on apace. From this path we made frequent divergencies, but found no water; in one instance we met with a native well of great depth, where a party of them had been drinking a few days before, but it was now quite dry. We therefore continued our search, and just as it was growing dark, had made about

FIND IT AT WATER PEAK.

41

seven miles of a circuitous course, and found ourselves at the foot of the high-peaked hill seen this morning, named by me Water Peak. I still hurried along the native path, and was so wrapt up in the thoughts of our present position, that I passed, without seeing it, a beautiful spring that rose to within a few inches of the surface. Near this the natives had built a small hut, covered with boughs, concealed in which they might kill the birds and animals which came to drink at this lone water; the keen eye of Coles in a moment detected the little pool, and our thirst was soon assuaged.

For a few minutes we lay on the bank of this clear spring, resting our wearied limbs, and admiring the scenery around us. There is a something in the wild luxuriance of a totally new and uncultivated country, which words cannot convey to the inhabitant of an old and civilized land,—the rich and graceful forms of the trees, the massy mossgrown trunks which cumber the soil, the tree half uptorn by some furious gale, and still remaining in the falling posture in which the winds have left it, the drooping disorder of dead and dying branches, the mingling of rich grasses and useless weeds, all declare that here man knows not the luxuries the soil can yield him it was over such a scene, rendered still more lovely by the falling shadows of night, that our eyes now wandered.

I roused the men again, and we commenced our return to the party, loaded with a supply of water. It was now dark, and we soon wandered from the

path. Kaiber took a star for his guide, and led us straight across the country; but our route lay through a warran ground, full of holes, and in the darkness of the night we every now and then had a tremendous tumble, so that at the end of about four miles, I thought that it would be imprudent to proceed farther, as we every moment were in danger of breaking a limb or seriously injuring ourselves. I therefore halted for the night, and as we were unable to light a fire both on account of the heavy dew, and of having no proper materials with us, the first portion of it passed wretchedly enough, indeed, weary as I was, I found it necessary to walk about in order to preserve some slight degree of warmth my frame.

in

At length, however, the men, who were much too cold to sleep, got up, and renewing their efforts, succeeded in kindling a blaze. Kaiber soon collected plenty of wood, and as I was unable to sleep, I passed the night in meditating on our present state.

I felt sure that if the men persisted in their resolution of moving slowly, a lingering and dreadful death awaited us all; yet my opinion was a solitary one. Mr. Walker had in many instances plainly and publicly shewn, that he on this point differed with me; and he was a medical man, and one who certainly never shrank from any danger or toil, which he thought it his duty to encounter. The most, therefore, I could say against those who were opposed to my system of moving was, that I conceived them to be guilty of a grievous error in

POSITION AND PROSPECTS.

43

judgment; but it was not until our separate opinions had been tested by the future, that it could be definitely pronounced who was right. Nevertheless, those who have been much with men compelled to make long marches, cannot fail to have remarked how readily and foolishly they find excuses to enable them to obtain a halt, and such persons would probably have agreed with me in suspecting that natural indolence of disposition, strengthened by fatigue and privation, might induce men to adopt, without a very strict investigation, any opinion falling in with their immediate feelings of feebleness.

Being firmly convinced that these men intended to pursue a plan of operations, which would entail great misery both upon themselves and the others, I considered that I ought undoubtedly to endeavour to save them from the danger which I foresaw impending over them; and this could only be accomplished by my making forced marches to Perth, and sending out supplies to meet them, before they were reduced to the last extremities. Had I foreseen a week ago that I should be compelled eventually to adopt such a step, I would then have taken with me all such as were willing to march, and have left the others; but this time had passed. My movement to Perth must now be accomplished with the greatest expedition, or it would be useless; and to take any one with me who was so much reduced as to have de layed, impeded, or perhaps altogether to have arrested our progress, would have sacrificed the lives of all.

PROCEED WITH THE STRONGEST TO PERTH FOR ASSISTANCE -ARRANGEMENTS AT STARTING-THE ARROWSMITH RIVER -NATIVES-MOUNT HORNER-GAIRDNER'S RANGE-GENEROUS CONDUCT OF ONE OF THE MEN,

April 10.-THE morning's dawn found us in the vicinity of our comrades, and just as the thick grey mists began heavily to ascend from the low plains on which I had left the party, we emerged from the bush upon the native path, down which we had travelled the preceding evening; here I turned northward, and a few minutes more placed the party in our view. Some of them were missing. I felt alarmed lest a new misfortune had happened, and hurrying on, eagerly asked where they were. answer given will describe more truly their position, than the most minute detail could do; it was-They are just gone into the bush to suck grass, Sir." This semblance of extreme thirst must, how

66

ever,

The

I suspect, have been in some measure a piece of affectation upon their parts, for upon the morning of the day before, they had had a plentiful supply of