112 RETURN FROM THE KARAULA. [(JH. V, 



cautious to be intrusive. The wheels being repaired at 

 three p.m. we turned our faces homewards, and exactly at 

 sunset, we reached the ponds, where I had twice previously 

 encamped. 



Feb. 8. — In our line of route back to the Gwydir, we 

 knew, by experience, that no water was to be found. The 

 distance to that river from our present camp was twenty-three 

 miles ; but I considered it bettei- to cross this dry tract, by 

 a forced march in one day, than to pass a night without water. 

 By this arrangement, we could halt on the river during the 

 day following, to recover and refresh the cattle after so long 

 a journey. We were accordingly in motion at § past 5 a.m., 

 and the early part of the morning being rather cool, we got 

 forward very well. After mid-day, the weather was very 

 liot. At four P.M. the bush of one of the wheels became so 

 loose, that the cart fell down, and it was necessary to repair 

 the wheel, before it could proceed. Mr. White undertook 

 this with the aid of some of the men, while I continued the 

 journey with the rest ; and it may be imagined how cleverly 

 the work was done, from the fact, that my zealous assistant 

 overtook us with the cart, before we reached the end of the 

 day's journey. 



We perceived smoke arising before us, when we had ar- 

 i-ived within six miles of our old encampment on the Gwydir, 

 and soon after, we found the grass burning on both sides 

 of our line of route, which, it should be observed, had been 

 marked by us throughout, on advancing into this country, 

 not only by the wheel ti'acks in the soft soil, but also by 

 chipping the trees on both sides with an axe. We now 

 found the track of wheels almost obliterated by the prints of 

 naked feet, as if a great number had followed us, or rather 

 Mr. Finch. A long continued cooy was, at length, heard at 

 a distance, apparently the signal of our arrival, and from 

 the confused sounds which followed, and smoke ascending in 

 various places, it was evident, that a numerous tribe was 

 awaiting us. The wearied cattle reached the river, just after 



