I 



JARDINE RIVER AND ESCAPE RIVER 325 



fell heavily all day, as well as during the night following. CAMP 80, 

 at the end of this stage, was pitched on the right bank of a river, 

 which was named the McHENRY, coming from the south, and of 

 a volume equal to that of the Jardine itself. This river probably 

 takes its rise near the 74th Camp. 



On 2jth January, the party crossed to the left bank of the 

 McHenry. "This was accomplished in safety, CATTLE AND HORSES 

 TAKING THE WATER LIKE DOGS, the greater difficulty being in getting 

 over the packs, saddles and stores, which had to be carried on the 

 heads of the swimmers of the party, and this necessary part of a 

 bushman's education was not common to all." RAIN fell steadily 

 the greater part of the day. The day's journey was estimated at 

 5 miles ; the country slightly improving, with a little grass on the 

 banks of the Jardine. CAMP 81. 



2$th January. Following the JARDINE, with its " endlessly 

 recurring water-courses, each with its eternal fringe of thick vine 

 scrub," was soon found to be intolerable, and a course was shaped 

 to the west. The intention was to run the river (supposed to be 

 the Escape) down to the head of the tide and to leave the cattle 

 to recruit while the Brothers found a practicable way to Somerset. 

 The westward excursion proved a failure, and " far from improving 

 the travelling, made it worse, as they got into a maze of scrub, heath 

 and swamp, through which they had to thread their course. They 

 had therefore to make their way back to the river." The total 

 distance travelled was estimated at 12 miles. I reckon that it 

 must have been more, and that CAMP 82, on the bank of the river, 

 was about 9 miles NNE. of Camp 81. The rain poured all day long. 



In the last portion of its course, the river seemed to be making 

 at last as if it would really become the Escape. This hope, however, 

 was to prove illusory. 



CAMP 82 was established as a depot and resting-place for the 

 main body of the party and the animals, while the Brothers went 

 out to reconnoitre. Packs, saddles and stores were found to be for 

 the most part completely rotted from the constant wet. (SEE 

 MAP A.) 



The EXCURSION OF THE BROTHERS, who were accompanied by 

 EULAH, occupied the 3Oth and 3ist January and the 1st February, 

 and the reconnoitring party returned to the main camp (82) early 

 in the morning of 2nd February. 



They found that it was IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AWAY FROM THE 

 RIVER, as they no sooner got out of sight of it than they became 

 entangled in thick brush and teatree swamps WITHOUT a blade of 

 GRASS. Following the windings of the river for a distance which 

 they estimated at 31 miles, they struck a large creek which they 

 named the ELIOT, coming from the south. The course of this 

 river has since been determined by the CAPE YORK TELEGRAPH 

 SURVEY. It rises in 11 30' S. lat. and the telegraph line now 



