Blanchewater
Got all the stores forwarded ex Lubra, and dray repacked, and started on
Tuesday, September 24; went about eleven miles, camels and cart camped at
small creek, the horses camped further on, having mistaken their
instructions; poor country.
Wednesday, 25 September 1861.
Tooncutchan, Mr Baker's outstation-sixteen miles; met Mr Elder and Mr
Giles there, and Mr Stuckey arrived in the afternoon; poor country.
Thursday, 26 September 1861.
Manawaukaninna, Messrs. Stuckey's outstation, unoccupied; thirteen and a
half miles. Mr Stuckey and I went to Lake Torrens about three miles
distant to look out for a good crossing-place for the cart, which we did,
and returned to hut. Three of the horses had a narrow escape from
drowning before starting this morning. The country was a little better
today; filled all our water vessels and bags for the dry country between
this and Pando or Lake Hope.
Friday, 27 September 1861.
Started early; got all safe across the Lake Torrens, no water being at
our crossing nor in view. Horses and camels went on to camp about
twenty-five miles distant and leave what water was to spare for the dray
and my horse, and proceed on the next day to Lake Pando, which I found
afterwards they did, then bearing from 2° 30' to 3°;
cart and sheep came twelve and a half miles on same course; at three
miles crossed Lake Torrens, then over a fearful jumble of broken
sandhills quite unfit to be described, occasionally passing a small flat
trending west-north-west and east-south-east; at eleven and a half miles
passed on our left a small salt lake, dry, half a mile long; watched
bullocks and sheep.
Saturday, 28 September 1861.
Started early, came ten miles similar country; did not get to within two
miles of where the horses and camels camped on 27th. I rode on and found
the water there, and very welcome it was. The bullocks refused to pull
and several lay down in the dray and a couple of them charged right and
left; unyoked them and came on with them to where the water was left,
from which place I meant to start the two blacks, Peter and Sambo, into
the lake with them; gave the blacks each a canteen full of water, also
Jack, the native shepherd, with instructions to keep on to the lake on
the tracks of the advance party, intending to ride over to the lake
myself to water my horse, leaving Palmer, and Frank (a native) with the
cart and all the water to remain till the bullocks returned for the cart.
Started and at one and a half miles found the bullocks at a standstill
and the sheep in sight, the bullocks refusing to be driven and charging
the blacks. Just as I came up by some mischance the coupling of one of
the charging bullocks gave way, and in an instant poor Peter was tossed
up in the air by Bawley and as he descended was caught up again and
tossed about on the ground; invariably the brute caught his horns against
the large canteen and saved the poor fellow's life. I was obliged to
leave the black then aft with the cart, and with Sambo started on for
water; travelled and spelled during the whole night and got to the lake
early Sunday 29th, party all right; lots of blacks, apparently peaceably
inclined. Found that Mr Hodgkinson and Mr Middleton had that morning
started for the dray with the camels with a supply of water. Mr Elder
and Mr Stuckey went to look at the country and returned in the evening;
the sandhills and flats alternately bore north-north-west and
south-south-east from the camel and horses camp of 27th.
Monday, 30 September 1861.
Mr Elder, Mr Stuckey, and Mr Giles started; wrote a pencil memo to
town. Since we left last station weather very hot and disagreeable in the
extreme for the time of year. Anxious about the men and camels; went
westward some distance to find traces of the camels, thinking it probable
that they might have strayed from them; very hot, north wind, no traces,
nor did they return.
|