in “sugar bag” hunting, in which they were very successful, bringing in as much as made a feed for the whole camp, which was no small quantity.  Scrutton and Eulah returned at dark, without having seen any traces of the missing cattle, so it was determined to go on without them, as it would have been madness to have remained longer in such dangerous country.  At night they experienced a heavy storm, which is thus described in Frank Jardine’s journal:—­“We had one of most severe wind and thunder storms this evening that I ever saw.  The largest trees bent like whip-sticks, and the din caused by the wind, rain, thunder, and trees falling, beyond description.  People looking at it from under a snug roof would have called it ‘grand,’ but we rhymed it with a very different word.”  This may be called a “joke under difficulties.”

‘December’ 31.—­Macleod Creek was reached by half-past eight o’clock this morning, and cattle, horses, and packs were all safely crossed by 9.15.  The journey was then continued over, or rather, through very boggy tea-tree flats, and undulating stringy-bark, nonda, and bloodwood country, to a large flooded creek, coming from the eastward, which received the name of “Kendall Creek,” after a friend of Mr. Richardson’s.  There was a little rising ground on its banks, on which the party camped.  Frank Jardine went up it for a few miles, and found a spot at which to cross the next day, in the same manner as at the last.  At this camp some capital barramundi and perch were caught, one of the former weighing no less than 14 pounds.  They were a great treat, as the party had been without meat for some days, the heavy rains allowing them no chance of killing.  The distance travelled to-day was 12 miles, and course generally N.N.W., but the track was winding in consequence of having to lead the horses, and thread the way through the soundest looking places. (Camp LVI.)

CHAPTER IV

New Year’s Day—­Sinclair Creek—­New Year’s Creek—­Kinloch Creek — Micketeeboomulgeiai—­The River Archer—­The Coen—­Slough of Despond - River Batavia—­Two Horses Drowned—­Five Horses Poisoned — Symptoms—­Abandon Baggage—­Cache—­Party commence Walking — Difficult Travelling—­Two more Horses Die—­Last Encounter with Natives—­Pandanus Thorns—­Another Horse Sickens—­Urgency of Getting Forward—­Dalhunty Creek—­Another Horse Dies—­“Creamy” and “Rocket” Die—­Skardon’s Creek—­Pitcher Plant—­Two Saddles Abandoned—­Nell Gwynne’s Foal Killed—­Richardson’s Range.

‘January’ 1.—­Kendall Creek was crossed early on the morning of this, New Year’s Day, and subsequently at distances of 10 and 14 miles, two small creeks of running water, coming from the eastward, named respectively Sinclair and New Year’s Creeks, in which lilies were abundant (’Blue Nympheas’), and on the last of which the party camped.  The progress was rendered very tedious and difficult, by the large trunks and branches of