LOG or MR. SIMPSON. 265 



to a clear place free of mangroves^ the only one we 

 had seen ; here we landed^ and Jacke}^ pointed it 

 out as the place where Mr. Kennedy had come 

 down on the morning' of the day when he was 

 killed ; it was here Jackey advised him to abandon 

 the horses and swim the river^ about thirty yards 

 wide. Jackey pointed out the tree where he made 

 the horses fast whilst the}^ went down to the river 

 and searched in vain for oysters^ the}^ having* had 

 nothing- to eat all that day. 



We ag-ain proceeded^ the river becoming* g-radually 

 narrower as we advanced^ and the water perfectly 

 fresh. After g'oing about two or three miles^ the 

 river became so narrow that our oars could not be 

 used. AVe were compelled to haul the boats along*^ 

 ag'ainst a strong* stream^ by the over-hang*ing* 

 branches of the trees^ frequently coming* across 

 fallen trees^ over which we had to launch our boats, 

 runninof the risk of stavino- them ; and ag-ain oblio*ed 

 to force them under others. A better spot could 

 not have been selected by the natives for cutting* us 

 off, had they been so disposed — a narrow creek, and 

 a dense scrub on either side. We still proceeded 

 till the boats could g*et no further. We had traced 

 the Escape River to its source — a small fresh water 

 creek. As we advanced the belt of mang-roves 

 became thinner. We landed on a clear place, on 

 the YiQ-ht of the creek. We went a short distance 

 inland ; saw an extensive plain, with numerous larg-e 

 ant-hills on it, which Jackey knew as the place he 



