Ascend the Canobolas.
Choose the direction of my route.
Ascend the hill north of Buree.
Encamp on the Mundadgery.
Cross a granitic range.
King's Creek.
Cross Hervey's range.
First view of the interior.
Parched state of the interior country.
The dogs kill a kangaroo.
Steep descent to the westward.
Search for water by moonlight.
Encamp without any.
Follow a valley downwards and find water.
Lifeless appearance of the valleys.
Luxury of possessing water after long privation.
Ascend Mount Juson with Mr. Cunningham.
Enter the valley of the Goobang.
Meet the natives.
Social encampment.
Mount Laidley.
Springs on the surface of the plains under Croker's range.
Cross Goobang Creek.
The dogs kill three large kangaroos.
Wild honey brought by the natives.
Arrive at Tandogo.
Allan's water of Oxley.
Advantage of aboriginal names on maps.
Excursion with Mr. Cunningham.
Effects of a hurricane in the forest.
Encamp without water.
Natives leave the party.
Cattle distressed for want of water.
Mr. Cunningham missing.
Desperate search for water.
At length find water on reaching by night the river Bogan.
Encamp on this river.
ASCEND THE CANOBOLAS.
April 6.
Accompanied by two men carrying barometers and my theodolite I ascended
the mountain of the Canobolas, distant from Buree about twelve miles. I
was desirous of connecting the map of our intended journey with that
summit because it is a prominent point in my general survey of the
colony. It also commands an extensive view towards the country we were
about to explore; indeed the course of streams and direction of ranges
within thirty-five miles around this mass seemed only subordinate
features. The height of the mountain above the sea is, according to my
observations, 4461,6 feet, which is much higher than any of the Blue
Mountains. I sought in vain on their azure horizon in the east for the
many summits which I had ascended there; but could distinguish none save
Mount Lachlan, the position of which, having been well fixed, was however
sufficient for my purpose. From this elevated group of the Canobolas a
chain of heights of primary rocks extended into the interior; and the
base of the chain appeared to increase in width towards the west, as far
as the rivers on each side of it had been explored. These were the
Lachlan and Murrumbidgee on the south, and the Macquarie, Bogan, and
Darling on the north.
CHOOSE THE DIRECTION OF MY ROUTE.
I considered this high ground would afford the safest line of route in
the winter season to the low interior country; while the heights would
also enable me to extend my survey westward with more accuracy, as far as
they could be seen on this journey. From the summit I carefully
intersected every prominent point on the western horizon; and I chose for
the direction of my future route that part which, while it appeared to be
in continuation of the most elevated ground, yet had openings between
summits through which I judged the party might pass. To the southward I
already beheld Mr. Oxley's various hills, rising like so many islands,
from the otherwise level country on the Lachlan; and far in the
north-west the level blue horizon exactly resembled an open sea; while to
the westward the line of vision was broken by the summits of Croker's and
Harvey's ranges. After a careful reconnaissance of these and other still
more distant features the country seemed to me most favourable for a
passage on the bearing of 60 degrees west of north. In that direction
therefore I resolved to proceed; trusting that He, who led Israel like a
flock, would guide and direct our little party through the Australian
wilderness before us.
ASCEND THE HILL NORTH OF BUREE.
April 7.
Early this morning I ascended the hill to the northward of the old
station, and took some angles for the purpose of determining the position
of the house at Buree, from which our measurement was to commence. The
party moved forward along a road still for the first 5 1/2 miles, when
this convenience would serve our purpose no longer, and we struck into
the pathless woods.
ENCAMP ON THE MUNDADGERY.
After travelling over some connected hills and marking the trees as we
proceeded we, at nine miles, reached the head of a chain of ponds falling
southward, which I named Dochendoras Ponds; and encamped beside them in
the valley of Mundadgery, where the pasturage was good. The whole country
traversed this day consisted of grassy open forest-land. We measured at
first with a perambulator from the house at Buree; but this got out of
order, upon which Mr. Larmer, with the chain and circumferenter,
continued the measurement. We took with us fifteen sheep from Buree, to
try whether this kind of livestock was available on such expeditions.
CROSS A GRANITIC RANGE.
April 8.
While the teams were yoking I rode forward some miles to examine the
country, and I found a very good line for the party to ascend, precisely
in the desired direction. On returning about nine o'clock I put them in
motion, and by eleven we reached a granite formation, the whole country
previously passed consisting of trap or limestone. The granite formed the
crests of a range, and where it occurred I observed a remarkable change
in the vegetation, as well as in the scenery, which was much improved by
pine trees (Callitris pyramidalis) whose deep green contrasted
beautifully with the red and grey tinges of the granite rocks, while
their respective outlines were opposed to each other with equally good
effect. At twelve I rode to a bold summit of herbless granite whence I
observed the Canobolas, bearing north 122 degrees east, and took angles
on several hills.
KING'S CREEK.
Following the general bearing of 60 degrees west of north our route
extended along beautiful levels and easy slopes, while bold granitic
peaks, clothed with pine, rose on both sides. The grass was excellent
and, even in this remote region, we passed two flocks of sheep. At three
o'clock we arrived at the foot of a small pass, the ascent to which was
rather steep; and, while the cattle were toiling upwards, I went forward
in search of water, but found none in the valley beyond the pass. Having
ascended the next ridge I again obtained a bearing on the Canobolas (121
degrees east of north) and an angle with the Coutombals* (85 degrees 45
minutes). On returning I rode down the valley towards the south-east
where I met Mr. Cunningham who had found a good waterhole (apparently at
a spring) with a large rock in the centre. I accordingly conducted the
party to it, and we encamped about four P.M. Here we were joined by
Charles King, a men whose services I had taken some trouble to obtain,
and who gave me now a proof of his strength and fitness for such an
undertaking by coming from Emu plains, distant 145 miles, in little more
than two days. For this man I was indebted to Sir John Jamieson. The
above feat I thought deserved to be recorded, and I therefore gave his
name to the watercourse on which we had encamped. The party was now
complete, and I was glad to find that Dr. Souter, no longer a new chum,
was the best of good fellows with the other men. He had brought a flute
on which he played tolerably well, either after the acquisition of a
kangaroo, or when we had good water, or during any very serene evening.
(*Footnote. For an account of Wellington Valley near the Coutombals see
Appendix 2.4 to Volume 2.)
CROSS HERVEY'S RANGE.
April 9.
As usual I proceeded some way in advance, marking the line of trees to be
followed by the party, and I was fortunate in finding an easier ascent
for our wheel carriages to the range before us than I had expected. On
descending the opposite side we entered a fine valley, well watered; and
which, had we known the country better, we might have reached on the
previous evening. We next travelled over fine forest land, and by keeping
some rocky hills, consisting of trap, on our right, we headed the deep
ravines and bold ranges which appeared to branch from them to the
northward. Thus we journeyed along very good ground, the slopes being
easy and unimpeded by timber.
FIRST VIEW OF THE INTERIOR.
At one o'clock I ascended a pic and obtained, for the first time since I
approached these ranges, an uninterrupted view of the country to the
westward of them. From this point I recognised several other hills
observed from the Canobolas, some of which did not appear very distant. A
square-topped eminence bearing west-south-west a great way off I supposed
might be Mount Granard; and a few other heights more to the westward
crowned what had hitherto appeared to be a flat horizon. I began to
discover however that, although apparently flat, this horizon consisted
of low ridges intersected by valleys, and I hoped to find among the
former one or two rocky points which might be available to my survey.
PARCHED STATE OF THE INTERIOR COUNTRY.
It was now evident that no rain had fallen in these interior regions
since the summer heat had parched the earth. We had passed today no water
except what we saw in the morning, although one green valley which we
noticed on our right soon after starting probably contained some.
THE DOGS KILL A KANGAROO.
A fine kangaroo was this day seen before us and immediately killed by the
dogs. Our journey was prolonged for the purpose of arriving at a
waterhole but we could not find one.
STEEP DESCENT TO THE WESTWARD.
At four o'clock a view of the country beyond the mountain range opened
before us; and, being anxious to gain the valley which lay at its foot, I
hastily effected a descent, although the ground was steep and rocky, in
hopes of finding water before it grew dark. Following the valley
downwards I succeeded, but not until sunset, in finding, in a crevice of
a rock, enough for the men.
SEARCH FOR WATER BY MOONLIGHT. ENCAMP WITHOUT ANY.
The carts were then three miles behind me, and although we sent by
moonlight for water for the party the poor cattle could not be watered,
and were consequently kept in their yokes all night to prevent their
straying in search of it.
Having examined the bed of the dry creek to some distance below the rock
where the water remained I found its course so sinuous, and its banks so
steep, the valley itself having no breadth, steep-sided hills closing on
the deep dry channel, so that it must have been almost impossible to
proceed that way with the party. I therefore determined to explore the
country more to the right, early next morning, expecting to find in that
direction a line of route by which we might be sooner extricated from
these sinuous valleys and hilly extremities. I hoped also that we should
thus reach some more united channel deep enough to retain a portion of
the waters of more favourable seasons.
FOLLOW A VALLEY DOWNWARDS AND FIND WATER.
April 10.
I went forward (prima luce) and soon gained a low ridge, the rocky points
of which had obliged me to keep to the valley in seeking for water the
preceding evening. From this ridge I had the satisfaction of following
with my eye into the far distant level country a continuous valley, the
apparent outlet or channel of all these mountain torrents, and which, I
had no doubt, contained water. Having marked out the best passage I could
find to this point for the bullock teams I descended to the valley before
me and, after following it about four miles, the hollows in the dry bed
of the rivulet appeared moist.
LUXURY OF POSSESSING WATER AFTER LONG PRIVATION.
At two miles further I found water in the crevices of a rock, and a
little lower still abundance for the cattle in a large pond. After
watering my thirsty horse I galloped back with the encouraging tidings to
the party, and by eleven o'clock we had encamped beside the water, with
the agreeable certainty of obtaining breakfast, and with excellent
appetites for it.
LIFELESS APPEARANCE OF THE VALLEYS.
We had passed through valleys, on first descending from the mountains,
where the yellow oat-grass (or Anthisteria) resembled a ripe crop of
grain. But this resemblance to the emblem of plenty made the desolation
of these hopeless solitudes only the more apparent, abandoned as they
then were alike by man, beast, and bird. No living thing remained in
these valleys, for water, that element so essential to life, was a want
too obvious in the dismal silence (for not an insect hummed) and the
yellow hues of withering vegetation.
We had at length emerged from these arid valleys, and entered upon an
open and more promising country. Our boats and heavily laden carts had
crossed all the mountains in our way without any accident, and we had
water in abundance.
It is on occasions such as these that the adventurer has intervals of
enjoyment which amply reward him for laborious days of hardship and
privation. The sense of gratification and repose is intense in such
extreme cases, and cannot be known to him whose life is counted out in a
monotonous succession of hours of eating and sleeping within a house;
whose food is adulterated by spices, and sauces, intolerable to real
hunger--and whose drink, instead of the sweet refreshing distillation
from the heavens, consists of vile artificial extracts, loathed by the
really thirsty man with whom the pure element resumes its true value, and
establishes its real superiority over every artificial beverage.
ASCEND MOUNT JUSON WITH MR. CUNNINGHAM.
April 11.
At seven o'clock I proceeded with Mr. Cunningham to the summit of a cone,
bare of timber, which I had observed from the Canobolas, and which bore
138 degrees east of north from our camp, distant about six miles. The
ascent was easy, and from the summit (on which Mr. Cunningham obligingly
erected a pyramid) I obtained many valuable angles with my theodolite on
the very distant hills which broke the western horizon. We found the
variation of the needle to be 8 degrees 40 minutes East. This hill I
named, at Mr. Cunningham's request, Mount Juson.
ENTER THE VALLEY OF THE GOOBANG.
We returned to the camp at half-past two, when we found the party ready
to start; and accordingly we proceeded forward. Our journey was through
verdant vales, increasing in width as we followed the channel of the
stream we had traced from the mountain, and which now contained abundant
pools of water.
MEET THE NATIVES.
At length the sound of the native's hatchet was heard, and one came
forward to meet me. We learned from him that we were upon Buranbil creek,
and that its course was south-west towards the Calare, or Lachlan. The
range whence we came they called Warre (Croker's range of Oxley) and that
north of it Goobang (Harvey's range of the same) from which, as I was
also informed, a creek of similar name issued and flowed into the
Buranbil.
The evening was beautiful; the new grass springing in places where it had
been burnt presented a shining verdure in the rays of the descending sun;
the songs of the birds accorded here with other joyous sounds, the very
air seemed alive with the music of animated nature, so different was the
scene in this well-watered valley from that of the parched and silent
region from which we had just descended.
SOCIAL ENCAMPMENT.
The natives whom we met here were fine-looking men, enjoying contentment
and happiness within the precincts of their native woods. Their enjoyment
seemed derived so directly from nature that it almost excited a feeling
of regret that civilised men, enervated by luxury and all its concomitant
diseases, should ever disturb the haunts of these rude but happy beings.
The first native who came up to me was a fine specimen of man in an
independent state of nature. He had nothing artificial about him save the
badge of mourning for the dead, a white band (his was very white) around
his brow. His manner was grave, his eye keen and intelligent, and as our
people were encamping he seemed to watch the moment when they wanted
fire, and presented a burning stick which one of the natives had brought,
in a manner expressive of welcome, and an unaffected wish to contribute
to our wants. At a distance their gins sat at fires, and we heard the
domestic sound of squalling children. The scene assumed a more romantic
character when:
like a queen came forth the lovely moon
From the slow opening curtains of the clouds,
Walking in beauty to her midnight throne,*
and the soft notes of The Doctor's flute fell pleasingly on the ear while
the eye was equally gratified by the moonbeams as they shot from the
trees, amid the curling smoke of our temporary encampment. The cattle
were refreshing in green pastures. It was Saturday night, and next day
the party was to rest. We had reached in one month, from Sydney, the
plains leading to the Darling, having placed all the mountain ranges
behind us, and these reflections heightened our enjoyment of the scene
around us, and sweetened our repose.
(*Footnote. Croly's Gems.)
April 12.
Accompanied by Mr. Cunningham and three men carrying my theodolite,
sextant, and barometer, I ascended a summit at the southern extremity of
Harvey's range, and which I had observed particularly from Mount Juson as
being the most eligible point to form, in connection with that range, a
base for extending the survey westward. This hill was clear of timber
and, as it commanded an uninterrupted view in that direction, I
intersected every point observed from Mount Juson. The highest summit of
Canobolas was just visible over the intermediate ranges and, what was
also of equal importance, that of the Coutombals. These ranges, already
mentioned in another place, consist of a group of lofty hills situated
about 12 miles to the South-South-West of Wellington valley and, being
connected with the general survey, enabled me here to fix this station
correctly.
MOUNT LAIDLEY. SPRINGS ON THE SURFACE OF THE PLAINS UNDER CROKER'S RANGE.
As we returned across the lower country towards our camp we observed some
places unusually green, and found that this verdure was nourished by
springs, the water lying on the surface so that in a season when the beds
of almost all streams were dry we watered our horses on an extensive flat
of forest land. Such springs must be of very rare occurrence in this
country, for in the course of my journeys I had never before seen any.
The hill thus connected with the survey I named Mount Laidley.
CROSS GOOBANG CREEK.
April 13.
The party moved off at half-past eight o'clock, and at half-past nine it
crossed Goobang creek, or chain of ponds. This channel contained some
deep pools, apparently proof against the summer drought. The Goobang has
its sources in the ravines between Harvey's and Croker's ranges, the
course being towards the Lachlan. In this and other tributaries of the
same river I observed that all the permanent pools were surrounded by
reeds.
As we proceeded beyond the Goobang, chiefly in a north-west direction, we
found the country tolerably level and to consist of what in the colony is
termed open forest land. We crossed one or two eminences, but the carts
met with no impediment in a journey of fifteen miles.
The principal hill consisted of traprock, and was so naked that only one
or two trees of the Sterculia heterophylla grew upon it. The native name
for it was Pakormungor, and from its top I recognised Mounts Juson and
Laidley, and near me various low features which I had intersected from
those stations. The rock, in other places less elevated, consisted of
schist or slate in laminae, dipping to the east at an angle of 60
degrees. Some very rich ironstone also occurred on the surface.
THE DOGS KILL THREE LARGE KANGAROOS.
This day three large kangaroos were killed by our dogs, one of them
having been speared very adroitly during the chase by a native who
accompanied us from our last encampment.
From Pakormungor the country began to decline to the northward and, as we
descended into the basin of the Bogan, it improved in grass. The Acacia
pendula occurring here reminded me of the banks of the Namoi; and Mr.
Cunningham had a busy day in examining many interesting plants which he
had not previously seen on this journey.
We at length encamped on a lagoon to which the natives led us, and which
they named Cookopie.
WILD HONEY BROUGHT BY THE NATIVES.
We were now in a land flowing with honey, for our friendly guides, with
their new tomahawks, extracted it in abundance from the hollow branches
of the trees, and it seemed that, in the proper season, they could find
it almost everywhere. To such inexpert clowns, as they probably thought
us, the honey and the bees were inaccessible, and indeed invisible, save
only when the natives cut the former out, and brought it to us in little
sheets of bark, thus displaying a degree of ingenuity and skill in
supplying wants which we, with all our science, could not hope to attain.
Their plan was to catch a bee, and attach to it, with some resin or gum,
the light down of a swan or owl; thus laden the bee would make for its
nest in the branch of some lofty tree, and so betray its store of sweets
to its keen-eyed pursuers, whose bee-chase presented, indeed, a laughable
scene.
April 14.
We continued in a west or south-west direction, passing Goonigal,* a
large plain on our right, near which there was a fine tract of open
forest land. The ground afterwards rose in gentle undulations, and was
covered with kangaroo grass;** the soil changing also from clay to a red
sandy loam.
(*Footnote. This we found afterwards to be the native term for any
plain.)
(**Footnote. Anthisteria australis.)
We next arrived at a creek, or chain of deep ponds, called Coogoorderoy,
which appeared to come from the south-south-west. Further on we passed
plains on our left of the same name; and at length we crossed a fine one,
the native name of which was Turangenoo. On the skirt of it was a hill
named Boorr, which we kept close on our left, crossing its lower
extremities, which were covered with a forest of ironbark eucalyptus, and
forest oaks or casuarinae.
ARRIVE AT TANDOGO.
At four o'clock we reached Tandogo, a fine creek of water descending from
the south, and flowing to the Bogan.
A hill to the north-west, I was informed, was named the Bugamel.
ALLAN'S WATER OF OXLEY.
April 15.
I halted to lay down my survey, and connect it with that of Mr. Dixon of
the Bogan. At noon I found our latitude to be 32 degrees 45 minutes 30
seconds South and on making allowance for the difference between Mr.
Oxley's base (as to longitude) and my own, I supposed we were then upon
Allan's Water of Oxley.
ADVANTAGE OF ABORIGINAL NAMES ON MAPS.
In this instance, as in many others, the great convenience of using
native names is obvious. For instance, so long as any of the aborigines
can be found in the neighbourhood of Tandogo, future travellers may
verify my map. Whereas new names are of no use in this respect,
especially when given to rivers or watercourses by travellers who have
merely crossed them without ascertaining their course, or even their
sources, or termination. He alone should be entitled to give a name to a
river who explored its course or, at least, as much of it as may be a
useful addition to geography; and when a traveller takes the trouble to
determine the true place of hills or other features he might perhaps be
at liberty to name them also. The covering a map with names of rivers or
hills crossed or passed merely in traversing an unknown country, amounts
to little more than saying that so many hills and rivers were seen there;
and if nothing were ascertained further of the connections of the former,
or the courses of the latter, we derive from such maps little more
information than we had before; for that hills and rivers are to be seen
in any unknown part of a country is generally understood to be the case
before a traveller commences his journey. A future explorer determines
with much trouble the position of a river in the world's map. "This is my
river B---," says the man who crossed it first, or who, by merely
stumbling perhaps upon it, claims all the merit of its DISCOVERY, even
when circumstances may have forced him to proceed in that direction,
rather than that he was looking for what he found under the guidance of
any analogy, or series of observations.
In the afternoon I rode back to the hill of Boorr (seven miles) with the
theodolite, and I obtained some useful angles to various points of
Harvey's range, and on such few eminences as could be distinguished in
other directions.
EXCURSION WITH MR. CUNNINGHAM.
April 16.
Mr. Larmer went forward with the carts in a north-west direction while I
proceeded westward, accompanied by Mr. Cunningham, towards a hill which I
had intersected from Mounts Juson and Laidley, and which I expected to
find at about nine miles west by compass from our camp.
EFFECTS OF A HURRICANE IN THE FOREST.
We continued along an undulating ridge for about five miles, crossing
also a flat on which all the trees, for a considerable extent, had been
laid prostrate by some violent hurricane, making a very uncommon opening
in the forest through which we were accustomed to travel. The trunks lay
about due east, and all nearly parallel; thus recording a storm from the
west before which our tents must have gone like chaff before the wind,
and where shelter from the trees, not under them, might have been sought
for in vain.
At 7 1/2 miles we crossed a chain of small ponds falling to the north
(probably Coysgaime's ponds of Oxley) and about one mile further we
ascended the northern shoulder of the hill I was in search of. From the
summit I obtained angles on one or two hills to the south, which lay a
few miles off, but I could not recognise them as having been previously
intersected.
We descended and proceeded northward through the dense woods, in the
midst of which, after estimating distances and time, I at length pulled
my rein, and observed to Mr. Cunningham that I hoped to fall in with Mr.
Larmer, or the track of the carts thereabouts.
ENCAMP WITHOUT WATER.
Just then I heard the crack of a whip, and we soon met Mr. Larmer at the
head of the party. I continued the route in the same direction until
after sunset, when we were obliged to encamp without reaching water.
Bulger however, with the assistance of the natives, found some, after the
rising of the moon, but not until he had been nearly three miles to the
northward in search of it. The cattle could not be watered there that
night as they had already travelled upwards of 15 miles.
I was aware that I might have made the Bogan by proceeding more towards
the north; but I preferred the direct line of route, even at the risk of
encountering a scarcity of water. In the more northerly course we should
have entered a great bight of that river, whereas I was making for its
most southern bend, which was not only in the most direct line towards
Oxley's Tableland, but was also nearer the hills along which I was
desirous of working my survey.
April 17.
ROCKS OF BENY.
We moved off at 8 o'clock, and at the distance of 3 1/4 miles we came
upon some curious rocks of red sandstone, forming the tops of a ridge
which extended North-North-East.
It is called Beny by the natives, and in a deep crevice there is a well,
the water of which, although at times apparently deep, had the previous
night been drained nearly to the bottom by a party of some tribe whose
fires still were burning.
NATIVES LEAVE THE PARTY.
The natives who accompanied us examined the traces of those who had fled
with considerable interest, and then fell behind our party and
disappeared.
From the highest of these rocks I obtained some good angles and bearings
on the hills I had seen on the day previous, and also on some of the
loftiest summits of Harvey's range.
CATTLE DISTRESSED FOR WANT OF WATER.
Our cattle, having had no water during the night, began to be distressed,
and I hurried forward, marking out the line, and we thus crossed, at five
miles beyond the rocks of Beny, the dry bed of what appeared to be
sometimes the channel of a considerable stream of water; its sides and
bottom were however then grassy; its depth and breadth very uniform,
while the general course appeared to be North-North-East but very
tortuous.
At four o'clock I had continued to mark the line. Being then six miles
beyond this channel, and anxious about finding water for the cattle, I
galloped forward three miles in search of the Bogan but without reaching
it.
The sun of this very hot day was near setting by the time I met our
party, to whom I had hastened back. They had travelled two miles beyond
the dry creek which it was my intention now to trace downwards as fast as
possible, followed by all our animals, in hopes that it would lead to
water.
MR. CUNNINGHAM MISSING.
While the men were unyoking the teams I was informed that Mr. Cunningham
was missing. The occasional absence of this gentleman was not uncommon
but, as he had left the party early in the day in order to join me, it
was evident, from his not having done so, that he had gone astray.
DESPERATE SEARCH FOR WATER.
At that moment I felt less anxiety on the subject, little doubting that
he would gain our camp before I returned from the forlorn search I was
about to make for water. Leaving Mr. Larmer with the rest of the party to
encamp there, I proceeded eastward towards the dry creek whose course I
soon intercepted, and I hurried the bullock-drivers along its bed
downwards until, after crossing many a hopeful but dry hole, they begged
that the cattle might be allowed to rest.
AT LENGTH FIND WATER ON REACHING BY NIGHT THE RIVER BOGAN.
Leaving them therefore I continued my search with the horses, still
following the channel, until I had the happiness of seeing the stars of
heaven reflected from a spacious pool. We had in fact reached the
junction of the creek with the Bogan. Having filled our kettles and
leather bottles we hastened back to where we had left the bullocks.
Leaving them to go forward and refresh, I set off at a venture on the
bearing of south-west by south, in search of our camp. After an hour's
riding the moon rose, and at length our cooey was answered. I had
previously observed, by the moon's light, the track left by my horse that
morning in the long dry grass, and verified it by some of my marks on the
trees. Would that Mr. Cunningham had been as fortunate! At that time I
did not doubt that I should find him at the camp; especially as we heard
no guns, it being a practice in the bush to fire shots when persons are
missing, that they may hear the report and so find the party. I then made
sure of a pleasant night's rest, as I was relieved from my anxiety
respecting the cattle.
ENCAMP ON THIS RIVER.
I had the pain to learn however on reaching the camp about eleven
o'clock, that Mr. Cunningham was still absent; and, what was worse, in
all probability suffering from want of water. I had repeatedly cautioned
this gentleman about the danger of losing sight of the party in such a
country; yet his carelessness in this respect was quite surprising. The
line of route, after being traversed by our carts, looked like a road
that had been used for years, and it was almost impossible to doubt then
that he would fall in with it next morning.
April 18.
We continued to fire shots and sound the bugle till eleven o'clock. Our
cattle were then ready to drink again and, as Mr. Cunningham was probably
ahead of us, to proceed on our route to the Bogan without further delay
was indispensable, in order that we might, in case of need, make such
extensive search for him as was only possible from a camp where we could
continue stationary.
We accordingly proceeded towards the Bogan, anxiously hoping that Mr.
Cunningham would fall in with our line, and rejoin the party in the
course of the day. After proceeding due north eight miles we came upon
the bed of this river; but, before I could find water in it, I had to
trace its course some way up and down. We at length encamped near a pond,
and night advanced, but poor Mr. Cunningham came not!