and
untoward event, but time could ill be spared to mourn. The dead man
was buried, a large fire made over his grave to prevent the natives
from detecting and disinterring the body, and with sad hearts the
little caravan prosecuted their march. The Doctor allows us to infer
that the wounded would gladly have prolonged the halt, but, although
feeling for their suffering state, he had duties to perform to himself
and his other companions; and being of opinion that motion would not
interfere with cure, he overruled objections, and insisted on
proceeding. The event proved he was right; the sick men, although
inconvenienced, were not injured by the march. Calvert was soon able
to resume his share in the labours of the camp and the hunting-field,
and Roper, although longer disabled, also eventually recovered.

The eighth chapter of Dr Leichhardt's journal will be esteemed by the
general reader the most interesting in the book, for in it he deviates
somewhat from his usual track, is more sparing than his wont of
botanical and geographical details, and gives a few brief but
interesting particulars of the daily life and habits of his party. "I
usually rise," he says, "when I hear the merry laugh of the
laughing-jackass (a bird) which, from its regularity, has been not
unaptly named the settler's clock; a loud _cooee_ then rouses my
companions, Brown to make tea, Mr Calvert to season the stew with salt
and marjoram, and myself and the others to wash, and to prepare our
breakfast, which, for the party, consists of two pounds and a half of
meat, stewed over night; and to each a quart pot of tea. Mr Calvert
then gives to each his portion, and, by the time this important duty
is performed, Charley generally arrives with the horses, which are
then prepared for their day's duty." Towards eight o'clock the caravan
usually started, and after travelling about four hours, selected a
spot for that night's camp, which being pitched, the horses and
bullocks unloaded, the fire lighted, and the dried beef put on to stew
for the late dinner, the remainder of the afternoon was devoted to
washing and repairing clothes, mending saddles, shooting, fishing,
botanizing and writing up the log. The Doctor, who was of course
provided with sextant, chronometer, compass, and the other instruments
necessary to ascertain their whereabout in the wide desert, would take
his observations, calculate the latitude, ride out reconnoitring, and
plan the next day's