In this distressing dilemma nothing remained for us but to reduce our ration of flour in such a proportion as would leave us twelve weeks of that article, and as we had still plenty of pork, to issue an extra pound of it weekly.  Since leaving the depot we had been so extremely guarded in the issue of provisions, to prevent the possibility of our suffering from any longer protraction of our journey than was expected, that never more than six pounds of flour had been issued to each person weekly, which now, from this accident coming to light, was reduced to four pounds:  it was, in truth, extremely fortunate that we had thus kept within the calculated ration, as otherwise our situation would have been highly alarming.

Some of our party began even now to anticipate the resources of famine, for a large native dog being killed, it was pronounced, like lord Peter’s loaf, in the Tale of a Tub, to be true, good, natural mutton as any in Leadenhall-market, and eaten accordingly:  for myself, I was not yet brought to the conversion of Martin and Jack.

The natives had been in this valley very recently, and I conjectured that they were then not far from us.  In the afternoon, the rain still continuing, I sent back the strongest of the horses to bring up the provisions left behind.  Towards eight o’clock the wind increased to a storm, so that the rain was forced through our tent in every part, and we were fairly washed out:  this abated about ten o’clock, and the weather partially cleared up.  Upon the whole this was the most uncomfortable day and night we had experienced since we quitted the depot.

June 19.—­Fresh winds from the north-west, with thick small rain.  The valley was now a complete bog, the hills closing on each side of it, and its widest part not exceeding two hundred yards:  the soil imbibes all the water almost as fast as it falls.  There was one comfort in all this bad weather; we had plenty of water, and the horses tolerable grass.

Taking advantage of a fair interval, I explored to the north-north-west about a mile, whence I had a tolerable view of the country between the showers:  it was broken into very remarkable hills between the north-west by north and north-east; to the west it was more level, and having been burnt, the young grass gave it a more cheering aspect than any we had seen for some time.  Bearings were taken to several remarkable hills for the purpose of connecting the survey.

Two swans passed over the valley to the north-west, which we considered as a sign that water lay in that direction.

June 20.—­The weather broke up during the night, and the morning was fair and pleasant.  However desirable it was that the horses should remain another day in this valley to recruit, yet, in the present unsettled state of the season, I was unwilling to lose an hour more than was absolutely necessary.  We here left all the spare horse-shoes, broken axes, etc. in order to lighten the burden of the horses.  This little valley received the name of Peach Valley, from our having here planted the last of our fruit-stones.