92 EMBARRASSING CIRCUMSTANCES. 
to the N. W. to The Scott, I went to a mere 
puddle of water, precarious and uncertain at the best, 
and at which, under any circumstances, we could not 
remain long : — yet move I must, as soon as the 
morning dawned. Many and anxious were the 
hours I spent in consideration and reflection. 
Little indeed are the public aware of the difficul- 
ties and responsibilities attached to the command of 
an expedition of exploration ; — the incessant toil, the 
sleepless hours, the anxious thoughts that necessarily 
fall to the share of the leader of a party under cir- 
cumstances of difficulty or danger, are but imper- 
fectly understood and less appreciated by the world 
at large. Accustomed to judge of undertakings only 
by their results, they are frequently as unjust in 
their censure as they are excessive in their approval. 
The traveller who discovers a rich and well watered 
district, encounters but few of the hardships, and 
still fewer of the anxieties, that fall to the lot of the 
explorer in desert regions, yet is the former lauded 
with praise, whilst the latter is condemned to obloquy; 
although the success perhaps of the one, or the 
failure of the other, may have arisen from circum- 
stances over which individually neither had any 
control. 
August 8. — The horses having rambled a little 
this morning it was rather late before we got away, 
I had, however, made up my mind to advance at 
all risks, and we accordingly travelled sixteen miles 
to the N. W. ; halting without any water upon the 
large watercourse emanating from Mount Deception ; 
