CHAPTER XVI. 
GO BACK TO MEET THE OVERSEER — PARTY ARRIVE AT THE 
WATER — LONG ENCAMPMENT GEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF 
THE CLIFFS — MOVE ON AGAIN — DIG FOR WATER — TRACES 
OF NATIVES — SEND BACK FOR WATER — PARROTS SEEN — 
COOL WINDS FROM NORTH-EAST — OVERSEER RETURNS — 
CONTINUE THE JOURNEY — ABANDON BAGGAGE — DENSE 
SCRUBS — DRIVEN TO THE BEACH — MEET NATIVES MODE 
OF PROCURING WATER FROM ROOTS. 
March 12. — The first streak of daylight found 
us on our way to meet the party, carrying with us 
three gallons of water upon one of the horses, the 
other was ridden by the boy. Upon passing the 
sandy valley, where I had been in such a state of 
suspense and doubt at seeing the sand-hills behind 
me, I determined to descend and examine them ; 
but before doing so, I wrote a note for the overseer 
(in case he should pass whilst I was in the valley,) 
and hoisted a red handkerchief to attract his atten- 
tion to it. 
I was unsuccessful in my search for water ; but 
whilst among the sand-hills, I saw the party slowly 
filing along the clifis above the valley, and leaving 
the boy to look about a little longer, I struck across 
to meet them. Both horses and people I found 
greatly fatigued, but upon the whole, they had got 
through the difficulty better than I had anticipated; 
