OVERSEER RETURNS FOR STORES. 369 
dense scrubs and over steep heavy sand ridges, but 
without having fired a shot. 
Our mutton (excepting the last sheep) being all 
used on the 4th, we were reduced to our daily allow 7 - 
ance of half a pound of flour each, without any meat. 
On the 5th, the overseer and one of the native 
boys got ready to go back for some of the stores and 
other things we had abandoned, forty-seven miles 
away. As they were likely to have severe exercise, 
and to be away for four days, I gave them five 
pounds extra of flour above their daily allowance, 
together with the wallabie which I had shot, and 
which had not yet been used; they drove before 
them three horses to carry their supply of water, and 
bring back the things sent for. 
As soon as they were gone, with the assistance of 
the two native boys who were left, I removed the 
camp to the white sand-drifts, five miles further 
west. Being anxious to keep as near to the grass as I 
could, I commenced digging at some distance away 
from where the natives procured their water, but at 
a place where there were a great many rushes. After 
sinking to about seven feet, I found the soil as dry 
as ever, and removing to the native wells, with some 
little trouble opened a hole large enough to water 
all the horses. The single sheep gave us a great 
deal of trouble and kept us running about from one 
sand hill to another, until we were tired out, before 
we could capture it; at last we succeeded, and I tied 
2 B 
VOL. i. 
