Narrative Of The Overland Expedition Of The Messrs. Jardine, From Rockhampton To Cape York, Northern Queensland By Frank Jardine And Alexander Jardine
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The Black Guides Were Not Forgotten, And
Received Their Reward Of Biscuit And Tobacco.
The manner in which
they use this latter is curious, and worthy of notice.
Not satisfied
with the ordinary "cutty" of the whites, they inhale it in volumes
through a bamboo cane. The effect is a profound stupefaction, which
appears to be their acme of enjoyment. On the morning of the 5th,
taking with them their younger brother, John Jardine, and their two
guides, Harricome and Monuwah, and the five fresh horses, in addition
to their own, the Brothers started to return to the cattle party, who
were anxiously awaiting their return on the banks of the flooded
Jardine. The black pilots were made to understand where the camp
was, and promised to take them by a good road. The first stage was
to the Saltwater Creek, on which they had camped with the tribe,
which they reached in about 17 miles, passing on the way, three fine
lakes, Wetura, Baronto, and "Chappagynyah," at two, four, and eight
miles from Somerset. The road was a fair one for the cattle, keeping
along the line marked by Mr. Jardine the preceding year as before
mentioned, and only presented a few light belts of scrub to go
through. They were likewise enabled to choose a better crossing of
the Saltwater Creek, where the swamps join and form a defined
channel. The last two miles were very boggy, even the fresh and
well-conditioned horses getting stuck occasionally.
'March' 6.
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