JARDINE RIVER AND ESCAPE RIVER 329 



in light marching order. On i$th February, no less than three 

 hours were consumed in crossing one of the boggy gullies. The 

 horses had to be unpacked, and half of them had to be pulled across 

 with ropes. From Camp 83 to CAMP 84, 8 miles east of the 

 Eliot River, the distance was estimated at 1 1 miles. 



i6th February. The ELIOT RIVER was crossed ; it was 30 

 yards wide and 5 feet deep, with sandstone outcrops. The 

 horses had to be relieved of their loads. Two miles further, 

 CAMP 85 was pitched on the river bank after 10 miles had been 

 accomplished. The camp must have been where the TELEGRAPH 

 LINE now crosses the Jardine. 



ijth February. CAMP 86 was on the right bank of a large creek 

 falling into the Jardine, 8 miles down the latter from Camp 85, 

 and 2 miles beyond the Brothers' camp of 1st February. 



I Stb February. The creek at Camp 86 was crossed in the 

 morning, cattle, horses and men having to SWIM, the men carrying 

 the saddles and loads on their heads. The course of the Jardine 

 River had now become NORTHWARD, and for a short time the 

 travellers were elated by the conviction that they were about to 

 round the elusive and mythical " BEND TO THE EAST," which had 

 by this time become an article of faith with them. The 10 miles 

 of this day's march are described as " poorly grassed stringybark 

 ridges " for the first mile, and then " the country resumed its old 

 character of swamp, brushwood and low scrubby banks, flooded for 

 4 or 5 feet, the overflow filling swamps running parallel, and 

 about 300 or 400 yards distant from the river." After 

 CAMP 87 had been fixed, a suspicion arose that the river was within 

 the influences of the tide, a rise and fall of 6 inches being per- 

 ceptible, although, owing to the floods, the water was fresh. 



Richardson made the latitude of the camp 10 56' 14" S., which 

 is nearly correct; 



A halt was made at this spot earlier than would otherwise have 

 been the case, because the party had started without breakfast, 

 having NOTHING TO EAT, and it had become necessary to kill a calf. 



The i<)th February, " being Sunday," was, according to 

 Byerley, " chiefly devoted to rest," the slight exception being the 

 cutting up, jerking and smoking of the meat, a bark hut having 

 to be erected for the smoking process. 



20th February. Heavy RAIN fell from 2 a.m. till after the party 

 resumed their journey. It was found that the JARDINE RIVER 

 again took a WESTWARD COURSE, and after following it in this 

 direction for 6 miles [say 4. R. L. J.] the procession was brought 

 to a standstill by a creek coming from the south, fringed with 

 mangroves, the banks showing a TIDAL RISE AND FALL of 3 feet. 

 The Brothers and Eulah crossed the creek and ALICK and Eulah 

 climbed a tree, from which they saw the MOUTH OF THE JARDINE 

 RIVER some 2 miles distant, and also PRINCE OF WALES and BARN 



