52 IMPROVED CONDITION OF THE HORSES. 
enable them also to recruit a little upon the ex- 
cellent grass which grew in this neighbourhood. 
Wylie took the rifle out to try to get another kan- 
garoo, but did not succeed. I remained at home 
to mend my boots, and prepare for advancing again 
to-morrow. In the afternoon we filled our kegs, 
and brought away the bucket and spade from the 
sand-hills, that we might be ready to move without 
going again to the water. For the first time since 
we left Fowler’s Bay we were troubled with mus- 
quitoes. 
May 26. — Up early, and Wylie, who had been 
eating the whole night, was so thirsty, that he ac- 
tually walked all the way through the dew and cold 
of the morning to the water to drink, as I could 
only afford him one pint out of the kegs. We had 
now been in camp six clear days, at this most fa- 
vourable position ; we had gbt an abundant and 
wholesome supply of provisions for ourselves, and 
had been enabled to allow our horses to enjoy a 
long unbroken interval of rest, amidst the best of 
pasturage, and where there was excellent water. 
Now that we were again going to continue our 
route, I found that the horses were so much im- 
proved in appearance and in strength, that I thought 
we might once again venture, without oppression 
to the animals, occasionally to ride ; I selected there- 
fore, the strongest from among them for this pur- 
pose, and Wylie and myself walked and rode alter- 
nately ; after passing the scrubby sand -ridges, and 
