CH. IV.] NIGHT WITHOUT WATER. 91 



camp about two p. m., one of the party (Burnett), having 

 become seriously ill. As the country appeared to decline 

 towards some wooded hollows, I hoped that one of these might 

 be found to contain a pool, especially as the wood appeared 

 to consist of that species of casuarina which, in the colony, 

 is termed swamp-oak, and which usually grows in moist situ- 

 ations. Subsequent experience, however, proved quite the 

 reverse ; for on exploring the deepest hollows, and densest 

 thickets about our camp, not a hollow containing the least 

 moisture could be found. Thus, the cattle were compelled 

 to endure this privation, once more, after a hard day's work, 

 and during an unusually hot evening. To add to our distress, 

 " the doctor," as Souter was termed by his comrades, having, 

 as soon as we halted, set out in search of water, with the 

 tea-kettle in his hand, did not return. 



When the sun had nearly set, a black swan was observed 

 high in air, slowly winging its way towards the south-west, 

 and many smaller birds appeared to fly in the same direc- 

 tion. Even the sight of an aquatic bird was refreshing to 

 us, but this one did not promise mucli for the country to the 

 northward, for, at that time of the evening, we might safely 

 conclude, that the greater body of water lay to the south- 

 west in the direction of the swan's flight. I found the longi- 

 tude of this camp to be 29° 23' 54'' S. making our distance 

 from the camp, on the river, about ten miles. 



Jan. 22. — The non-appearance of Souter occasioned me 

 much uneasiness ; fortunately the trees were marked along 

 our line of route, from the river, and it was probable, that he 

 would this morning find the line, and either follow us, or 

 retrace his steps towards the camp on the river. The men, 

 who knew him best, thought he would prefer the latter al- 

 ternative, as he had been desirous of remaining at the depot. 



This was likely, however, to occasion some inconvenience 

 to us, as he was a useful hand, and I did not despair, even 

 then, of finding some use for the tea-kettle. Burnett had 

 recovered ; the morning was clear, with a pleasant breeze 



