EINASLEIGH RIVER TO STATEN RIVER 299 



CREEK down (NW. by W.) for about n miles and camped 

 (CAMP 23). 1 



On the ijth, a further move of 5 miles was made to where 

 COCKBURN CREEK falls into the STATEN RIVER (de facto), which the 

 Brothers took for the Staten and Richardson for the Lynd. CAMP 

 24 was 6 miles down the river below the junction. At this camp 

 SCRUTTON " was bitten in two or three places by a SCORPION, without, 

 however, any very severe effects." The camp of the iSth, No. 25, 

 was about 8 miles further down the river. The next camp, 

 No. 26, was made on the ityh, n miles further down. 



On the 2Oth, 9 miles further west, 8 the party having been 

 compelled to camp early in the afternoon owing to a deluge of rain 

 (CAMP 27), was ATTACKED by about a score of NATIVES and there 

 were some narrow escapes, one spear passing between Cowderoy's 

 legs. Two shots in reply, although they missed their aim, dis- 

 persed the assailants. 



2ist November -, 1864. The camp was shifted 3 miles to the 

 west, to a spot where there was some grass and plenty of water 

 (CAMP 28). Thirteen of the horses were missing in the morning 

 and were not found till the 27th. The BLACKS had been among 

 them and had scattered them all over the country, and they were 

 " wild as hawks " and had broken their hobbles. 



On the 22nd, as FRANK JARDINE was riding out alone looking 

 for good travelling for the cattle, he was ATTACKED by NATIVES, 

 who threw half a dozen spears at him. When he had shot three of 

 the natives, the remainder (about nine) fled, leaving their weapons 

 behind. The black boy Sambo was assailed by three natives who, 

 after a boastful harangue, threw spears. The pinch of starvation 

 now began to threaten and stern restrictions were imposed: on 

 the consumption of rations. Kites hovered around the camp 

 in myriads and grew so bold as to snatch the meat cooking on 

 the fire. 



Camp 28, where the party was compelled to stay for seven days, 

 was a very undesirable residence. Mosquitoes, sandflies and gad- 

 flies tormented the explorers, who had worries enough on their 

 minds. The final misfortune was the loss, on the night of the 

 26th November, of fifteen cattle owing to the carelessness of the 

 man in charge, who slept on his watch. Only seven of the cattle 

 were recovered. 



Finally, when a start was made on the 27th, one of the horses 

 was missing and had to be left behind. FRANK JARDINE rode on, 

 on the north side of the river, ahead of the party, looking for good 

 travelling and a suitable camp. Nine miles down the river he 



1 The numbers of the camps are as given by the Brothers. Richardson gives none, 

 except in his map. The expedition was usually split up into two or three parties which 

 camped at different places. 



3 Distances obviously much exaggerated, probably owing to windings of the river 

 and difficulties. 



