Escape. Disheartening as this was, there was nothing else to be done
in the present state of the country. Distance travelled, 7 miles
westerly.

'February' 10.--Turning their backs on the mangroves and swamps of
the Escape River, the little party faced for the camp, steering
S.S.E. The first four miles was through boggy, swampy country,
through which they walked, driving their horses before them. The
remainder was over the usual iron-bark and bloodwood ridges, fairly
grassed with coarse grasses, intersected with swamps and belts of scrub,
through one of which they were three hours in forcing their way two
miles. After 11 miles of this kind of travelling they camped, the
horses completely knocked up, the men in not much better condition,
having had to drag the horses out of bogs several times, besides
cutting through the hanging vines of the scrubs. Distance 12 miles.

'February' 11.--The main camp was reached to-day, after another
fatiguing journey of 11 or 12 miles, the first 6 miles similar to
that of yesterday, the remainder through heath and brushwood. It was
sundown before they reached the river, which they found much swollen.
A heavy thunder-shower of two hours' duration, put up all the creeks
bank high, one of which, at about two miles from the river, they had
to swim across. Having struck it immediately opposite the camp, they
left their jaded horses with their saddles on the north side, and
swam across themselves to the party. During their absence another of
the horses, "Pussey," had died from exhaustion.

'February' 12.--The meat at the camp being all consumed, it became
necessary to halt for a couple of days, in order to kill and jerk a
beast. The flour too was now exhausted, save 10 lbs., which was
judiciously put by and reserved for an emergency. The day was spent
in crossing back the four horses, with saddles and swags. The cattle
were counted and some found missing; the Black-boys were therefore
sent in search of them. A beast was killed, cut up, and jerked, a
tedious task, from the absence of the sun. Although there were only
a few light showers towards evening, the air was damp; the meat,
therefore, had to be smoked under a covering.

'February' 13.--The lost cattle were found to-day, the jerking of
the meat finished, and preparations for a final start on the morrow
completed. The unfortunate horses were in such wretched condition,
that it was found necessary to lighten the loads to