20 THE JARDINES' EXPEDITION 



within a short distance from the goal they had so long 

 looked forward to reaching. 



On 1st Marcli. they started early, the morning being 

 wet as usual. At 3 o'clock they met with a number of 

 blacks, who spoke some words of English, and greeted 

 them with friendliness. These were made to understand 

 that they wanted to be guided to the settlement, " Kaieeby." 

 they called it, and they led the way for about 7 miles, when 

 they joined a larger number of natives, rJl unarmed. With 

 these they camped for the night. Whether the corroboree 

 that was then held was intended as a welcome, or meant 

 a rejoicing in anticipation of a repast on human flesh, they 

 did not then know, but about midnight the din ceased 

 and their dusky friends went to rest. About noon their 

 guides brought them safely to the settlement, and surrend- 

 ered them to their father who had long expected them, 

 their younger brother John being with him. With skin 

 tanned by the sun, coverings of emu feathers on their heads, 

 greenhide mocassins on their feet, and such remnants of 

 clothing as would hold together on their bodies — with such 

 outward but grotesque adornments —they were received 

 with joy and gladness. Since their father had seen them 

 they had travelled over 1,600 miles through country the 

 greater part of which was practically unknown, and they 

 had brought witli tliem, and in good health, all the men 

 who were in their care. But their losses of stock had been 

 gi-eat, and the difficulties, hardships, and dangers which 

 they had encountered and overcome, have scarcely if ever 

 been surpassed by those of any Australian explorer. 



The rest of my story may soon be told. After enjoy- 

 ing, in the companionship of their father and brother John, 

 the first decent meal they had had for months, the brothers 

 manned the Government whaleboat and pulled across the 

 Straits to Albany Island to get fresh horses. The Straits 

 are | mile wide, and the current was strong, but they 

 brought two horses over that evening, and three more 

 on the following day. They also chose a spot at Bullock 

 Point, about 3 miles from Somerset, for the head station 

 of their future run. Then they rested two days, more on 

 account of their jaded horses than on their own. Taking 

 these as well as the fresh animals with them, they started 

 back under the guidance of two of their newly-found dusky 



