BY HON. A. NORTON. 15 



troublesome. Sunday, 15th January, was observed as a 

 day of rest, and the exploiers feasted upon doughboys, 

 jam, and " stodge," made of flour and water in which some 

 small pieces of raw meat were boiled. Another horse was 

 poisoned, and a cow lost in the bog ; they liad more rain 

 at night. Their spare time while it was light was occupied 

 in picking pandanus thorns from their feet and legs. 

 Willingly would the brothers have rested but for tlie urgent 

 necessity for getting to the end of their journey. They 

 had to refuse all appeals to remain longer, and through 

 a dense undergrowth of vines, zamias, and pandanus they 

 pressed forward. They had no meat, and it was useless 

 to kill a beast, because they could carry nothing more. 

 One more horse died, and two others could scarcely drag 

 themselves along ; they had to unpack only twice this 

 day, and travelled 16 iniles. On 17th January, they 

 pressed forward through countrj^ somewhat better than 

 they had lately seen ; distance 15J miles to their camp 

 on Skardon Creek. The two weak horses died. At this 

 point, by their reckoning, they were near Kennedy's track 

 on the eastern watershed. The improvement they hoped 

 for did not last, next day's march .being through loose 

 white sandy ridges, covered with low bushes thickly matted 

 together with prickly vines, without trees and without grass. 

 The creeks crossed, which ran W. and N.W., were full of 

 water ; they were very boggy, and could only be crossed 

 at their heads. A foal, whose mother had previously died, 

 knocked u]3, so they killed him, and part of his flesh which 

 was carried on, " was a grateful addition to their food " ; 

 the distance travelled was 12 miles. The horses were short- 

 hobbled at night and watched ; still they got away, and 

 a late start next morning was the consequence. The 

 country was again execrable in every respect. 



On 20th January, the way was blocked by a dense 

 and extensive scrub through which it was imi:>ossible to 

 cut a track for the cattle ; these had to be driven 2 miles 

 back and then taken in an easterly direction. This took 

 them on to the- eastern slope from which the sea was dis- 

 tinctly visible ; after a very arduous day's work they struck 

 a patch of better country, well grassed and lightly timbered. 

 Here they pitched their camp, having travelled 9 miles 

 to reach a spot IJ miles from their last camp. Plenty 



