December 16.—­About ten to-day the dray and men arrived safely at the depot, being the last detachment of the party engaged in this most unfortunate expedition, which had occupied so much time and caused such severe and fatal loss, independently of its not accomplishing the object for which it was undertaken.  In the evening I sent Mr. Scott to see if the cutter had returned, and upon his coming back he reported that she had just arrived, but that he had not been able to communicate with her.

Chapter XIII.

Future plans—­reduce the number of the party—­send the cutter to
Adelaide—­report to the Governor—­monotonous life at camp—­remove to
another locality—­geological character of the country—­flint found—­again
attempt to reach the head of the bight—­reach the sand hills, and bury
flour—­friendly natives—­exhausted state of the horses—­get the dray to
the plain—­bury water—­send back dray—­proceed with
pack-horse—­oppressive heat—­send back pack-horse—­reach the head of the
bight—­surprise some natives—­their kind behaviour—­Yeer-kumban
KAUEE—­their account of the interior.

December 17.—­Having now maturely considered the serious position I was in, the difficult nature of the country, the reduced condition and diminished number of my horses, and the very unfavourable season of the year, I decided upon taking advantage of a considerate clause in the Governor’s letter, authorizing me “to send back the Waterwitch to Adelaide for assistance, if required.”

From the experience I had already had, and from the knowledge I had thus acquired of the character of the country to the westward and to the north, it was evident that I could never hope to take my whole party, small as it was, with me in either direction.  I had already lost three horses in an attempt to get round the head of the Bight, and I had also found that my three best horses now remaining, when strong and fresh after a long period of rest at the depot, had with difficulty been able to move along with an empty dray in the heavy sandy country to the north-west; how could I expect, then, to take drays when loaded with provisions and other stores?  Hitherto we had enjoyed the assistance of the cutter in passing up the coast—­by putting all our heavy baggage on board of her, the drays were comparatively empty,