FROM TEMPLE BAY TO HEAD OF JARDINE 575 



it up for a mile to the south, some sandstone country was seen for 

 the first time in the day's journey, and a creek of the second 

 magnitude fell into the right bank of the river. We ran the former 

 for half a mile to the east, when a fourth-magnitude creek branched 

 off from it. The country here was low and LIABLE TO BE FLOODED. 

 A thunder-storm was impending, and the afternoon was far spent, 

 so that we judged it better to return to the higher ground below 

 the mouth of the fourth- magnitude creek and camp for the night. 

 (CAMP 44.) There was a thunder-shower after nightfall. 



February 22. The creek rose 1 8 inches during the night, and 

 fell 6 inches to-day. The day was very warm. Crosbie, Hamil 

 and Macdonald were engaged in BUILDING A DUGOUT for crossing 

 the river below the mouth of the second-magnitude creek. I 

 walked up the latter for 3 miles in the hope of finding a crossing, 

 but was unsuccessful. Where I left the creek it bifurcated. 



Layland had felled a tree for a bridge across the second-magni- 

 tude creek below our camp. On my return he and I crossed by 

 the tree and traversed the low country to the river. On running 

 the river up for a mile we felled a tree across it, but it was submerged 

 for about 9 inches in the middle, and would only be available for 

 a bridge if the river should fall to that extent. 



The BOAT, on being launched in the afternoon, was found to 

 be too small and unstable for the strong current of the river, and 

 another was commenced ; the two to be lashed together. 



There was no rain to-day, or in the night. 



February 23. The river had fallen only 2 inches in the night. 



The DOUBLE BOAT was finished by eleven o'clock and found to 

 have a high carrying capacity, so no time was lost in getting the 

 luggage across the river, and we camped on the left bank. (AMP 



45-) 



Getting the horses across proved a difficult and dangerous task. 

 There was only one place moderately clear of scrub and snags, 

 about a quarter of a mile above the " ferry," where it was possible 

 for the horses to swim the river. There was first a long swim from 

 the right bank to a sandy island near the left bank, but the current 

 was strong, and if the horses got carried by it among the trees 

 below there was little hope for them. From the upper end of 

 the island a sandspit connected the island with the left bank, with 

 only a few feet of swimming, but the bank was boggy. 



The prospectors' horses crossed first. All of them reached the 

 island safely except one young HORSE, " Monkey," which got carried 

 down against a tree and struggled there till it was exhausted. On 

 being freed at last it struck back for the right bank, but was caught 

 by the current and DROWNED before our eyes without our being able 

 to do anything to save it. Then the prospectors' horses rushed 

 into the channel on the other side of the island before they could 

 be prevented, and as it was deep and strong, and the bank 



