DR. LEICHHARDT'S TRAVELS. 323 
miles from the junction of the Comet and Mackenzie rivers. 
After the first stage, however, their helplessness became so appa- 
rent, that Dr. Leichhardt returned to the last halting-ground, where 
the goats and sheep strayed away from the camp, no one being able 
to watch them, and they were at length compelled to leave them 
behind. 
After a rest they again moved on for three days, and reached 
the Downs of the Upper Mackenzie and Peak Range. Here the 
loss of the horses compelled them to stop, and as they had no 
more sheep, they killed the first head of cattle. They anticipated 
that the change of diet, from fat mutton to dried beef, might 
operate favourably on their health, but in this they were disap- 
pointed, for as the rain set in while the meat was drying, it became 
tainted and unpalatable. After having stopped here for nearly a. 
fortnight, they again advanced about ten miles farther. At this 
period their cattle strayed away and became dispersed in the 
scrub, and frightened probably by the natives, became so wild 
that they only succeeded in bringing back nine out of thirty-seven 
after a fortnight’s absence from the camp. Here they killed 
another bullock and dried the meat, and endeavoured by using 
great vigilance to retain the others; but in spite of all their 
efforts they broke away every night, and in five days they lost 
them altogether. Dr. Leichhardt and the native after a week’s 
anxious search came upon four, and brought them to camp, 
where he found all his companions ill with fever, and the mules 
and horses gone. 
Dr. Leichhardt seeing that it was impossible to move forward 
under these unfortunate circumstances made preparations for his 
immediate return, and set about collecting the mules and horses, 
the mules had strayed which they had not done since leaving 
Charley’s Creek. They recovered three horses and three mules, 
which increased their stock to ten horses and nine mules. 
Leaving their tea, salt, shot, and other baggage behind, they 
started on their road home, and after travelling thirty days without 
any interruption, reached the camp of Messrs. Blyth and Chevel, 
on the Condamine, on the 21st July, and on the 28th the station 
202 
