NAREATIVE OF MR. CAKHON. 211 



the party left at the camp were very weak, LufF 

 being' the weakest man that proceeded with the 

 party to Cape York. 



Before leaving' Mr. Kenrfedy told me that he 

 expected to meet with some difficulties for the first 

 few days, fi-om the nature of the country he had 

 seen from the hill. I did not mention this to the 

 rest of the party, for fear it might still further tend 

 to depress their spirits, as three or four of them 

 even now seemed to despair of ever reaching our 

 destination. I did all in my power to keep them 

 in good heart, but they were saddened and depressed 

 by long suffering. 



We removed our camp back across the creek to 

 the side of the high bare hill on which I was to hoist 

 a flag, and from which I could look out for a vessel. 

 It also afforded us a security from the natives, as 

 we could see them at a greater distance. The lati- 

 tude of this camp was IS" 85' S. 



And thus we settled down, in the spot which was 

 to be the burial place of so many of our party — 

 which was fated to be the scene of so much intense 

 suffering, and of such heart-sickening hope deferred. 

 Wearied out by long endurance of trials that would 

 have tried the courag-e and shaken the fortitude of 

 the strongest, a sort of slug'g'ish indifference pre- 

 vailed, that prevented the development of those 

 active energies which were so necessary to support 

 us in om" critical position. The duties of our camp 

 were performed as if by habit, and knowing hoAV 



p 2 



