Part 17 (1/2)

2nd

Early thisith Pierre to look for water, while my brother and Windich went on the same errand We followed up the brook about south for seven miles, e left it and followed another branch about South-South-East, ascending which, Pierre drew my attention to swarms of birds, parroquets, etc, about half a ht found one of the best springs in the colony It ran down the gully for twenty chains, and is as clear and fresh as possible, while the supply is unliood fortune, we hastened back, and, finding that my brother and Windich had not returned, packed up and shi+fted over to the springs, leaving a note telling thes ere soon joined by theive their own horses a drink; they also rejoiced to find so fine a spot Nas, after his Excellency Governor Weld, who has always taken such great interest in exploration, and without whose influence and assistance this expedition would not have been organized There is splendid feed all around I intend giving the horses a week's rest here, as they arevery poor and tired Baroaroo

3rd

Rested at Weld Springs Light rain thiswell, and will i the weather cleared, which I was sorry for, as good rains are e areBarorees at 5 prees at 8 as

Shod so chrono first-rate, and fast irees at 6 p Ten emus came to water; shot tith rifle at them, but missed Rated chronos Took three sets of lunars Pierre shot a kangaroo Marked a tree F 46 on the east side of the spring at our bivouac, which is in latitude 25 degrees 0 rees 21 minutes East Mended saddles Horsesvery fresh

7th (Sunday)

Pierre shot an eeons This is a splendid spot; eeons and birds innu the entire surface all round the place in the evenings We have been living on ga trip to-morrow; party to follow on our tracks on Tuesday Read Divine Service Barorees at 7 pm

8th

Started with Tommy Pierre to explore the country East-North-East for water, leaving instructions for my brother to follow after us to-enerally East-North-East for twentyany water We turned east for ten e, which we found to be covered with spinifex Everywhere nothing else was to be seen; no feed, destitute of water; while a few se, but all were dry Another range about twenty-four miles distant was the extent of our view, to which we bore At twenty miles, over red sandy hills covered with spinifex and of the mostwhich south for two miles, we camped without water and scarcely any feed Our horses were knocked up, having coround more than fifty miles The whole of the country passed over to-day is covered with spinifex, and is a barren worthless desert

BACK TO THE SPRINGS

9th

At daybreak continued east about four e seen yesterday, which we found to be a low stony rise, covered with spinifex The vieas extensive and very gloomy Far to the north and east, spinifex country, level, and no appearance of hills or water-courses To the south were seen a fe ranges, covered also with spinifex; in fact, nothing but spinifex in sight, and no chance of water Therefore I was obliged to turn back, as our horses were done up Travelling south for five ht our outward tracks, and, following the on, about twenty s Our horses were completely done up We had not had water for thirty-one hours We all turned back, retreating towards the springs, and continued on till 10 o'clock, e camped in the spinifex and tied up the horses

10th

We travelled on to the springs, which were only about three ht, and ca here for soet soood depot, as the feed is very good We found that about a dozen natives had been to the springs while ere away They had collected so all about

Natives appear to be very nus in the spinifex or valleys close to it Barorees at 530 ps Shot an emu; about a dozen ca trip East-South-East in search of water to-rees at 5 pm

12th

My brother and Windich started in search of water; myself and Pierre accoive their horses a drink About ten o'clock we left them and returned to camp

FIGHT WITH THE NATIVES

13th

About one o'clock Pierre saw a flock of eet a shot Kennedy folloith the rifle I climbed up on a small tree to watch the towards the hill, I saw fro towards the camp, all plumed up and armed with spears and shi+elds I was cool, and told Sweeney to bring out the revolvers; descended froun and cooeyed to Pierre and Kennedy, who ca

By this time they ithin sixty yards, and halted One advanced to ns; he did not appear very hostile All at once one fro forward, and h nal, when the whole nu, with their spears shi+pped When within thirty yards I gave the word to fire: we all fired as one ot a few shots, but they all ran up the hill and there stood, talking and haranguing and appearing very angry We re-loaded our guns, and got everything ready for a second attack, which I was sure they wouldleft in suspense They all descended from the hill and came on slowly towards us

When they were about 150 yards off I fired ain and was assisted away On exa the spot we found the ball had cut in two the two spears he was carrying; he also dropped his wommera, which was covered with blood We could follow the blood-drops for a long way over the stones I a aere short-handed The natives seem determined to take our lives, and therefore I shall not hesitate to fire on theain I thus decide and write in all hu our lives I write this at 4 p happen to us, my brother will kno and when it occurred

5 p in the thicket close to ca a strict watch, so as to be ready for the At 730 my brother and Windich returned, and were surprised to hear of our adventure They had been over fifty ood feeding country, but had not found a drop of water They and their horses had been over thirty hours without water

14th (Sunday)

The natives did not return to the attack last night In looking round camp we found the traces of blood, where one of the natives had been lying down This must have been the fore his spear, and who urged the others on Two therefore, at least, are wounded, and will have cause to remember the time theyup a stone hut, ten by nine feet, and seven feet high, thatched with boughs We finished it; it will reat source of defence Barorees at 5 pm Hope to have rain, as without it we cannot proceed

15th