THE CAPE YORK TELEGRAPH LINE 673 



improvised by their drivers. CAMP 37 was pitched at the junction 

 of the McHenry with the Jardine River, nearly 30 miles up the 

 river from where the Telegraph line now crosses. Here Bradford 

 crossed to the right bank of the Jardine with the intention of 

 resuming his northward course. (SEE MAP A.) It is, however, no 

 easy matter to keep a straight course while boring through scrub, 

 and the party found itself borne unwillingly to the west : it was 

 not till the 2Oth August that the low divide between the Jardine 

 River and Jackey-Jackey Creek was cleared (where the Telegraph 

 line now runs) and CAMP 43 was pitched about 3 miles west of 

 my Camp 68. The country north of the Jardine River was found 

 to be of the same character as the part of the " desert " already 

 traversed, and very much as the Brothers Jardine had described the 

 country south of the river in 1865. 



By this time, it was doubtful if any of the horses would live to 

 see Somerset. Rations for the men were almost exhausted, this 

 anti-climax having been hastened by the loss of a pack-horse with 

 nearly all the beef. It seemed as if the last part of the journey 

 would have to be made on foot and on very short rations. 



CAMP 44 (23rd August) lay about 6 miles NW. of Camp 43, 

 on the right bank of the Jardine River at the inf all of a creek coming 

 from the NE. From a point near the camp, the GULF OF CARPEN- 

 TARIA could be seen. CAMP 46 (24th August) was near the beach, 

 at the mouth of Cowal Creek, its position being fixed by bearings to 

 islands in the ENDEAVOUR CHANNEL. Here some of the horses had 

 to be left to recuperate, in the hope that they would be recovered 

 later. CAMP 47 was opposite RED and ROKO ISLANDS, the latter 

 being by this time occupied by a PEARL-SHELLING STATION. 

 The locality was considered by Bradford unfit for a cable terminus, 

 but a more suitable site was found near PEAK POINT. 



From this point, Bradford and Healy walked, leading their 

 horses, in two days, eastward to SOMERSET, where they were hos- 

 pitably received by FRANK JARDINE (29th August, 1 883). The travel- 

 ling was over better country than had been seen for many weeks. 



Of the original thirty-six HORSES, only thirteen reached Somerset. 



Bradford's diary concludes as follows : 



"Saturday, Stpttmber i. Sent the men, Cook, Wilson, Macnamara, Jimmy Sam 

 Goon and the black boy Johnny, to Cooktown by the ' Gympie.' Captain Brown, of 

 ' ROKO ' fishing station, gave Healy and myself a passage to Thursday Island in his 

 schooner. We passed the night at Roko, which is situated between Possession Island 

 and the mainland. On Sunday, September 2nd, we crossed to Thursday Island. This 

 was an opportunity (quite unexpected by me) to cross the Straits almost exactly where 

 the cable should cross, and Captain Brown, living at Roko and having boats pearl fishing 

 all about the Straits, was the person who could give me the most information about 

 the soundings, bottom, currents, shortest route, tide, prevailing winds, etc. We 

 arrived at THURSDAY ISLAND on Sunday evening, September 2nd. I saw Mr. H. M. 

 Chester and Mr. Wilkie (the Pilot) at Thursday Island, and their advice coincided with 

 what Captain Brown had told me. 



