ClI. VIII.] GET UPON A ROAD. .'341 



marked line. This was the only link wanted to complete the 

 route, which the carts were to follow; and it mav he imao-ined 

 with what satisfaction I lay down for the night, by that 

 water, which relieved me from all further anxiety, respecting- 

 the party I had succeeded in conducting through such a 

 country, during a season of so great drought. 



Sept. 14. — Having despatched the two men back to the 

 camp, with information and written directions respecting the 

 line to be followed, the plan of encampment, and the water ; 

 I struck again into our old track, by following which, I hoped 

 to reach Buree that night, this being the station whence I 

 first led the expedition, towards the interior. 



The consciousness of being able, unmolested, to visit even 

 the remotest parts of the landscape around, was now to me 

 a source of high gratification ; but this feeling can be under- 

 stood by those only, who may have wandered as long in the 

 low interior country, under the necessity of being constantly 

 vigilant, on account of the savage natives, and to travel 

 cautiously, with arms for ever at hand. 



At length, I came upon a dusty road, presenting numerous 

 impressions of the shoes of men and horses; and after having 

 been so long accustomed to view even a solitary, naked foot- 

 mark with interest, the sight of a road marked with shoes, 

 and the associations these traces revived, were worth all the 

 toil of the journey. The numerous conveniences of social 

 life were again at hand, and my compass was no longer re- 

 quired, for this road would lead me on without further care, 

 to the happy abodes of civilized men. 



On reaching Captain Raine's station at Buree, a native 

 named Sandy, informed me of the melancholy end of poor 

 Cunningham ; the particulars, he described, having been 

 gathered by him from other natives, who were eye-witnesses 

 of the appalling circumstances. A report from the officer of 

 mounted police, whom these natives afterwards guided to the 

 remains of my unfortunate fellow traveller, will be found in 

 the Appendix. 



