15 
and all suggestions respecting the advantages of a more 
easy descent by way of Harrietville were put aside. 
We considered well all that we learnt, and we finally 
determined to attempt the journey as we had previously 
mapped it out. 
We made a very early start from Parslow’s Inn, and 
those in advance arrived at a small plain — known as the 
Flour-hag—at 8 a.m From Parslow’s to the Flour-bag 
there were some rough hills to ascend, but on the whole 
the journey was enjoyed by all. We dismounted and 
rested on the plain for a short time, in the belief that the 
members of the party behind would soon join us, but in 
this we were disappointed. One of the pack-horses—a 
horse that had carried His Excellency to Parslow’s— 
and disdained any meaner employment—had bucked so 
viciously as to scatter the contents of his pack on the 
road, and we had to wait some time until the whole 
of the party was brought into order. We left Flour-bag 
Plain as soon as possible—sending the pack-horses in 
front—and we now really commenced the most difficult 
work that had yet presented itself. The “ pinches ” so 
called are very steep—and some of the heavy horsemen 
were unable to decide whether the inconveniences of the 
ascent or the descent were most annoying. In some places 
the track was strewn with loose fragments of rocks, it 
zig-zagged through masses of tangled scrub, and seemed 
now and again to be lost altogether — and to descend 
towards a point a thousand feet or more below. But 
willing horses and patient riders are not deterred by such 
difficulties. Good progress was made. At every point 
where it was possible to proceed rapidly we put our 
horses to their mettle ; and in a short time we left the 
steep rocks and the crooked gums behind us, and found a 
