240 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



was free of mangroves. This, Jackey-Jackey said, was WHERE HE 

 ADVISED KENNEDY on the day when he was killed TO LEAVE THE HORSES, 

 and swim the river, here about 30 yards wide. Jackey pointed out 

 the tree where he TIED THE HORSES while they searched unsuccess- 

 fully for oysters, having had NOTHING TO EAT that day. 



Three or four miles further up the stream, which had narrowed 

 considerably and was overhung with mangroves, the fresh water 

 was reached and a LANDING was made at a clear spot on the left or 

 western bank. Near this was " an extensive PLAIN, with numerous 

 large ant-hills on it, which JACKET knew as the place he had CROSSED 

 the day Mr. Kennedy was killed." 



" We walked," says Captain Simpson, " some distance across a swamp, still following 

 the course of the creek. We traced the creek for nearly a mile, looking out for a crossing- 

 place, when JACKEY pointed out on the other side the place where he had SECRETED 

 THE SADDLE-BAGS. At length we came to a tree which had fallen and formed a kind of 

 bridge, over which we passed with difficulty, and returned to the place where Jackey 

 said the saddle-bags were planted. Jackey then showed us the place where * horse 

 tumble down creek ' after being speared. Some horse-dung was found on the top of 

 the bank close to this place, which confirmed Jackey's statement. He then took us 

 a few yards into the scrub to look for the saddle-bags, and told us to look about for 

 a broken twig growing over a thick bush. The place was found, but THE SADDLE-BAGS 

 WERE GONE. On searching under the bush among the leaves, the horizon glass of a 

 sextant was found a strong proof that Jackey had hit upon the right place. 



" Jackey then took us through a dense scrub for some distance, when we came on 

 open swampy ground about half a mile wide. On the opposite side there was more 

 scrub, close to which there were three large ant-hills. Jackey took us up to the 

 centre one, five yards from which poor KENNEDY FELL. Against this ant-hill Jackey 

 placed him when he went after the saddle-bags. Jackey told us to look about for 

 broken SPEARS ; some pieces were found. He then took us to a place about sixty 

 yards from the ant-hill, WHERE HE PUT MR. KENNEDY, who then told him not to carry 

 him far. About a quarter of a mile from this place, towards the creek, Jackey pointed 

 out a clear space of ground, near an angle of a very small running stream of fresh water, 

 close to three young pandanus trees, as the place where the unfortunate gentleman 

 DIED. Jackey had taken him here to wash his wounds and stop the blood. It was 

 here, when poor Kennedy found he was dying, that he gave Jackey instructions about 

 the PAPERS, when Jackey said, ' Why do you talk so : You are not going to leave me ? ' 



" JACKEY then led the way to a dense tree-tea scrub, distant about three or four 

 hundred yards, where he had CARRIED THE BODY AND BURIED IT. When we came to 

 the edge of the scrub, Jackey was at a loss where to enter, as he said when he was 

 carrying the corpse he did not look behind all the objects in front being nearly alike 

 he did not get a good mark. Into the midst of the scrub we went, divided ourselves 

 and searched in every direction, but COULD NOT FIND THE PLACE. Jackey had not made 

 the spot too conspicuous ; fearing the blacks might find it, he had only bent down 

 two twigs across each other. The scrub was not very extensive but exceedingly thick. 

 I placed the party (eleven in number) five yards asunder and traversed it this way in 

 all directions, but without success. I then took Jackey to the plain where the poor 

 gentleman died, and told him to go towards the scrub in the same manner he did 

 when he was carrying the corpse, and not to look back, which he did, telling me the 

 manner in which he carried it and where he shifted it from one shoulder to another. 

 In this manner he entered the scrub, and I have no doubt he took us very near the 

 exact place where the body was buried. We sounded the ground all round with our 

 ramrods, but without success. After taking another good look we reluctantly gave 

 up the search, as the night was rapidly approaching, and returned to the boats," 



