May, 1859. CONJECTURES. 299 



further, and that these two men, not being able 

 to keep pace with their shipmates, were there- 

 fore left by them supplied with such provisions 

 as could be spared to last until the return of 

 the others from the ship with a fresh stock. 



Whether it was the intention of the retro- 

 ceding party to await the result of another 

 season in the ships, or to follow the track of the 

 main body to the Great Fish River, is now a 

 matter of conjecture. It seems highly probable 

 that they had purposed revisiting the boat, not 

 only on account of the two men left in charge 

 of it, but also to obtain the chocolate, the five 

 watches, and many other articles which would 

 otherwise scarcely have been left in her. 



The same reasons which may be assigned for 

 the return of this detachment from the main 

 body, will also serve to account for their not 

 having come back to their boat. In both in- 

 stances they appear to have greatly overrated 

 their strength, and the distance they could travel 

 in a given time. 



Taking this view of the case, we can under- 

 stand why their provisions would not last them 

 for anything like the distance they required to 

 travel ; and why they would be obliged to send 

 back to the ships for more, first taking from the 

 detached party all provisions they could possibly 



