316 NORTHMOST AUSTRALIA 



formidable fringe of VINE SCRUB covered the margin and approaches, and had to be 

 cut through before the cattle could cross. In addition, a large melaleuca which 

 leant over the stream, was felled across it, by means of which (by tying a rope above 

 it as a leading-line) they were enabled to carry over the packs, saddles, stores, etc., 

 on their heads. The CATTLE, ACCUSTOMED TO SWIMMING, took the water in splendid 

 style, ONE, however, getting entangled and DROWNED. With the HORSES they were 

 not so fortunate, for though a headstall was put on each, with a rope attached to the 

 bit, to haul them across, the rapidity of the current swept away TWO of them into a 

 tangle of vines in the middle of the stream, under which they were carried and 

 DROWNED, despite the exertions of four or five of the party to pull them across by the 

 rope. Their efforts to save them nearly cost their own lives, and A. JARDINE 

 chronicles receiving a ' nasty crack ' on the head from a log in attempting to dis- 

 entangle his own horse, * Jack,' from the vines. The other, * Blokus,' was a 

 Government horse, belonging to Mr. Richardson. Both were useful horses and a 

 great loss to the party, but only the forerunner of much greater ones. The creek 

 at last crossed, the party attempted to push forward on the other side ; but after 

 travelling a mile leading the horses, slushing through bog and swamp, under a heavy 

 rain, they were obliged to turn back and encamp on some high ground on the banks 

 of the creek, about half a mile above the crossing, wh;re there was a little good grass. 

 Several of their horses were left behind, one more in particular, ' Nell Gwynne,' being 

 too weak to travel." [AMP 67.] 



This camp (Camp 67) was in the centre of what is now a 

 " POLICE RESERVE " of about 840 square miles. 



12th January. The HORSES left bogged on the previous day 

 were got out, but FIVE DIED from eating some POISONOUS HERB, and 

 one was missing and was supposed to have been drowned. BLIND- 

 NESS was one of the effects of the poison. The remaining horses 

 were confined in an improvised yard. Owing to the loss of so many 

 transport animals, only one man, Binny, tailing the cattle, could 

 now be allowed to ride. Horseshoes and other articles were 

 buried in a " cache." The day was marked " BLACK THURSDAY " 

 in the Leader's diary, and the entry closed with the words " Nil 

 desperandum." 



The HORSES were now reduced to TWENTY-ONE, and these the 

 poorest and worst, another of the malignant peculiarities of the 

 poison being that it attacks the animals which are in the best 

 condition presumably because they eat more heartily. 



" With stout hearts and naked legs," the Brothers Jardine, 

 Binney, Scrutton and the four black boys set out on iyh January 

 to face what further trials might be ahead of them, for by this 

 time their wardrobes had been reduced to shirt and belt. A stage 

 of 10 miles NE. by N. was made with the utmost difficulty during 

 the day. The country was composed of ridges of red soil, divided 

 by boggy black soil flats covered with tea tree. " The CATTLE 

 floundered and BOGGED at every hundred yards, and even the 

 spare unladen horses had to be pulled out. The latter were at 

 length so completely knocked up that it was necessary to leave 

 some of them at one side of the swamp, the party carrying their 

 pack and loads about a quarter of a mile on to a dry ridge on the 



