292 PLAN FOR FUTURE ATTEMPT. 
for about eighty miles. Most of the party walked 
considerable distances in addition to those ridden. 
All the party were engaged, more or less, in con- 
nection with the three attempts to round the Bight, 
as were also all the horses, and of the latter, three 
perished from over fatigue and want of water. 
Yet, after all, the distance examined did not exceed 
135 miles, and might have been done easily in ten 
days, and without any loss, had the situation of the 
watering places, or the nature of the country, been 
previously known. 
None but a person who has been similarly cir- 
cumstanced, can at all conceive the incessant toil 
and harassing anxiety of the explorer ; when baffled 
and defeated, he has to traverse over and over again 
the same dreary wastes, gaining but a few miles of 
ground at each fresh attempt, whilst each renewal 
of the effort but exhausts still more the strength and 
condition of his animals, or the energy and spirits 
of his men. 
Upon maturely considering our circumstances and 
position, I decided to attempt to force a passage 
round the Great Bight, with pack-horses only, 
sending, upon the return of the cutter, all our heavy 
stores and drays in her to Cape Arid, if I found, 
upon her arrival, the instructions I might receive, 
would justify me in taking her so far beyond the 
boundaries of South Australia. This was the only 
plan that appeared to me at all feasible, and I de- 
termined to adopt it as soon as our horses were 
