CII. VII.] ILLNESS OF SOME OF THE MEN. 281 



although it was here, that we first fell in with the tribe which 

 followed us down ; and from the absence of all natives now, 

 it seemed, that they had heard of the affair on the river, and 

 kept out of our way perhaps from fear of us ; at all events, 

 their absence was a great comfort, and we hoped it might 

 continue. 



July 18. — Two men went back early this morning, and 

 brought on old " Pistol," the bullock which had lain down 

 the day before. We started at ten o'clock, passing our 

 encampment of the 1st July, and halting on the bank of the 

 river bed, where, on coming down, we had found some water. 

 It was now, however, dried up, but we had taken the pre- 

 caution to bring on enough for the party, and there was good 

 food for the cattle, and great appearance of rain falling. We 

 had no occasion therefore to send to the river, which was a 

 long way off. " Pistol'' again fell behind this afternoon, 

 and it was really distressing to see the animals in so weak a 

 state, with such a long journey still before them. Some men 

 now shewed symptoms of scurvy, and Robert Whiting being 

 unable to walk, had to be carried on the carts. The clover- 

 leaved plant growing here,* was therefore cooked for the men 

 as a veo-etable ; and such medicines were administered as 

 were likely to check the complaint : near this lagoon we 

 also found the Plantago varia of Mr. Brown. The weather 

 appeared unsettled ; the sky again lowering, and at sunset 

 it was overcast with portentous rainy looking clouds. The 

 air had become mild, when the wind, which had blown some 

 days from the south and south-west, suddenly came round to 

 the north, and a few drops of rain fell in the evening. 



July 19. — The wind blew strongly all night from the north- 

 west, and in the morning huge clouds darkened the sky, 

 but there was no immediate prospect of rain. The air was 

 warm and parching, and we proceeded with our thirsty 

 cattle to the next stage of our journey, (the camp of the 30th 

 June,) distant about five miles. This we reached by half- 



* Trigouella suavissima (Liudl. MSS.) ; see page 255. 



