Dec. 8, 1856.] WILSON ON THE NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 227 



where to find the camp. We then returned with all haste, and reached 

 the schooner by noon on the next day. It was my intention to have 

 sent a boat on the next day, with some of the sheep and a party to 

 encamp at the springs, but the night-tide rose high and carried the 

 vessel nearly over the bank, and there was a prospect of getting her 

 off next tide, to effect which the help of all hands might be required. 

 Having failed in this, I despatched a boat on the morning of the 

 14th, putting on board twenty sheep and some provisions, and 

 appointing Mr. Elsey, with two men, to take charge of the camp, 

 and Mr. Baines and Mr. Flood to return with the boat for another 

 load. The boat returned on the 16th, and started again on the 

 17th with eighteen more sheep. Unfortunately they grounded on a 

 bank near the Dome, and being delayed there nearly two days, some 

 of the sheep died. They arrived at the camp, however, a few 

 minutes after Mr. Gregory had been taken across the river to it in 

 the dingy. Meanwhile, as I endeavoured to remove the sheep to 

 the camp, the fate of the vessel became most critical. Being laid 

 across the stream, the current washed away the sand from under 

 both ends, leaving her supported only in the middle. The result 

 was, the kelson, some of the floor-timbers, and two of the beams 

 were broken, and there was every probability of her parting in two 

 had she remained in that position much longer ; but when the tide 

 rose we succeeded in getting her shifted a little ahead into the 

 hollow that had been washed out there. We soon after dis- 

 covered that there were four feet depth of water in the hold, and it 

 required the pumps to be kept at work all the time the tide was up 

 to keep the water below that mark. During the time of low tide 

 some of the principal leaks were found, and temporarily stopped. 

 The spring-tides were increasing, with which we expected to get 

 off. The boat sent to the camp being absent two days beyond the 

 calculated time, much uneasiness was felt in consequence, and 

 another boat was being prepared to send to the camp, when the 

 former appeared with Mr. Gregory on board. Mr. Gregory in- 

 formed us that his party had gone round by Steep Head to come to 

 the camp. On the 24th of October the vessel was got off, but 

 settled again on another bank near Alligator Point. I was next 

 day sent ashore with the remaining sheep to be kept at water 

 behind the Dome, which Mr. Gregory had found when passing there 

 with the horses ; Dr. Miiller and two men were sent with me. The 

 vessel was got off, and anchored opposite the camp on the 28th, 

 and on the 30 th two boats * arrived to take the sheep and party 



* Through the leakiness of one of these boats we lost 1 1 sheep. 



