XOG OF ME. SIMPSON. 265 



to a clear place free of mangroves, the only one we 

 had seen ; here we landed, and Jackey pointed it 

 out as the place where Mr. Kennedy had come 

 down on the morning of the day when he was 

 killed ; it was here Jackej' advised him to abandon 

 the horses and swim the river, about thirty yards 

 wide. Jackey pointed out the tree where he made 

 the horses fast whilst they went down to the river 

 and searched in vain for oysters, they having' had 

 nothing" to eat all that day. 



We again proceeded, the river becoming gradually 

 narrower as we advanced, and the water perfectly 

 fresh. After going about two or three miles, the 

 river became so narrow that our oars could not be 

 used. We were compelled to haul the boats along, 

 against a strong stream, by the over-hanging 

 branches of the trees, frequently coming across 

 fallen trees, over which we had to launch our boats, 

 running the risk of staving them ; and again obliged 

 to force them under others. A better spot could 

 not have been selected by the natives for cutting us 

 off, had they been so disposed — a narrow creek, and 

 a dense scrub on either side. We still proceeded 

 till the boats could get no further. We had traced 

 the Escape River to its source — a small fresh water 

 creek. As we advanced the belt of mangroves 

 became thinner. We landed on a clear place, on 

 the right of the creek. We went a short distance 

 inland ; saw an extensive plain, with numerous large 

 ant-hills on it, which Jackey knew as the place he 



