FROM SCARCITY OF WATER. 375 
so far away. Nothing could be more disheartening 
than our situation, and it was also one in which it 
was difficult to decide what was best to be done. 
Aware that a single false step would now be fatal to 
us all, I saw that our circumstances required prompt- 
ness and decision. With every thing depending 
upon my sole judgment, and the determination I 
arrived at, I felt deeply and anxiously the over- 
whelming responsibility that devolved upon me. 
We were now about half way between Fowler’s 
Bay and King George’s Sound, located among 
barren sand-drifts, and without a drop of water be- 
yond us on either side, within a less distance than 
150 miles. Our provisions were rapidly decreasing, 
whilst we were lying idle and inactive in camp ; and 
yet it would be absolutely necessary for us thus to 
remain for some time longer, or at once abandon the 
horses, and endeavour to make our way without them. 
To the latter, however, there were many objections, 
one of which was, that I well knew from the expe- 
rience we had already had, that if we abandoned the 
horses, and had those fearful long distances to travel 
without water, we never could accomplish them on 
foot, if compelled at the same time to live upon a 
very low diet, to carry our arms, ammunition, and 
provisions, and in addition to these, a stock of water, 
sufficient to last six or seven days. The only thing 
that had enabled us to get through so far on our 
journey in safety, had been the having the horses 
with us, for though weak and jaded, they had yet 
