COMMENCEMENT OF JOURNEY. 315 
early with the sheep, that they might travel more 
slowly than we should do with the horses. About two 
we loaded the pack animals, and wishing Mr. Scott a 
final adieu, set off upon our route. The party con- 
sisted of myself, the overseer, three native boys, nine 
horses, one Timor pony, one foal, born at Streaky Bay, 
and six sheep ; our flour which was buried at the sand- 
hills to the north-west, was calculated for nine weeks, 
at an allowance of six pounds of flour each weekly, 
with a proportionate quantity of tea and sugar. The 
long rest our horses had enjoyed, and the large 
supply of oats and bran we had received for them, 
had brought them round wonderfully, they were 
now in good condition, and strong, and could not 
have commenced the journey under more favourable 
circumstances, had it been the winter instead of the 
summer season. 
Two of the native boys having gone on early in 
the morning with the sheep, there remained only 
myself, the overseer, and one native, to manage 
ten horses, and we were consequently obliged to 
drive some of the pack-horses loose ; at first they 
went well and quietly, but something having un- 
luckily startled one of them, he frightened the 
others, and four out of the number set off at full 
gallop, and never stopped for five miles, by which 
time they had got rid of all their loads except the 
saddles. Sending the black boy back to the depot 
with the four horses that had not got away, I and 
the overseer went on horseback after the others, 
