154 AUSTRALIA AND THE AUSTRALIANS. 



On one side of the track was a flat of some hundreds 

 of acres, covered with native flax, growing in wild 

 luxuriance eight feet high, and forming an almost 

 impenetrable forest. On the other side of the track 

 was a grassy slope, where we hoped our horses would 

 be content. 



Having hobbled and belled them, we prepared our 

 evening repast, which was eaten under difficulties, as 

 the tropical rain still descended, wetting our clothes, 

 and giving us discomfort on every side. However, we 

 had light hearts, and made the best of everything, and 

 soon endeavored to forget our troubles in sleep. My 

 wife and I settled down inside the waggon, which was 

 covered with a canvas tilt, while my brother Sam, 

 finding it impracticable to pitch his tent in mud and 

 water, crawled under the conveyance and, without 

 undressing, rolled himself up in his blanket, and thus 

 sought rest from the cares of this lower world. 



His slumbers were but short, as the bells from the 

 horses told us they were wandering, and had entered 

 the forest of native flax; so, hastening after them, 

 and after floundering about in the darkness, and being 

 drenched to the skin, he succeeded in bringing them 

 back. The next morning showed no improvement 

 in the weather, but we tried to proceed. Our horses 

 were, however, unable to move the load, the wheels 



