Natioral History on the Lower Murray. 125 



them, the drays, and the remainder of the equipment out of the 

 scrub. 



November 6. — " Left party to ride through the scrub to 

 the Murray, in the direction that the South Australian Boun- 

 dary will take, taking two horses, intending to return the 

 same way. 



November 12. — " On the sixth day after leaving the camp, 

 one of the horses was unable to proceed, not having had water 

 for four days : compelled to leave him. Led on the other horse 

 some distance, when he also gave in, and lay down ; took the 

 saddle, &c, off him, and lay down beside him, being scarcely 

 able to stand, the day intolerably hot ; bled the horse, and drank 

 about half-a-pint of his blood, which was black, thick, and 

 unhealthy-looking, and had the same bad smell as his breath. 

 Got up ; staggered on with the greatest difficulty ; and reached 

 the river in a state of extreme exhaustion in the afternoon." 



From this extract you will perceive what were my hopes. 

 Nothing, however, could make me in the least faint-hearted in 

 the execution of my self-selected duties, and which, it appeared 

 to me, would be of very great interest as regards the scientific 

 investigation of a country hitherto considered a barren desert. 



I. On the 2nd of December, 1856, 1 received orders from the 

 Government to proceed to the junction of the Darling and 

 Murray Eivers, for the purpose of making investigations on the 

 natural history of that district, and also, with a view of collecting 

 as many specimens as possible for the National Museum, and 

 marking the distribution of animal life along my route. 



I left Melbourne on the 6th December, 1856, with a very 

 complete field equipment, consisting of five horses, two bullocks, 

 two drays, four tents, a full set of tools and implements, and 

 also a photographic apparatus. Four men were allowed me as 

 my staff, and I had before long to regret that I had made a bad 

 selection. The hardships, roughnesses, and privations of bush 

 life were unknown to them, and I was soon deserted and left to 

 myself, being, in consequence of this, exposed to innumerable 

 delays and inconveniences, so that I had very great difficulty in 

 fulfilling the duties which were expected of me. 



It would, however, be unjust on my part were I not to 

 acknowledge services, rendered to me by my assistant, Mr. G. 

 Krefft, who, from the beginning to the end of my undertaking, 

 most faithfully shared my lot. I may also mention a former 

 faithful servant of mine, James Manson, who, when written to 

 by me, joined my party at Mount Hope. He is one of those 

 trustworthy Scotchmen who, in this respect, have raised the 



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