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 Upper One Was The Deepest,
Having Many Ducks, Terns, And Cranes On It.
All three were
surrounded with a fringe of green rushes.
By digging wells and
allowing the water to drain in, it was drinkable, although very
brackish. (Camp XXXVIII.) Latitude 16 degrees 13 minutes 45
seconds.
'December' 8. - At 4 o'clock this morning Alexander Jardine started
with Sambo after the mule. The Leader remained with the party
employing the day in exploring ahead for about 18 miles, in the hope
of finding water for a stage. This was a paramount necessity, for
the weather was so hot and the country so dry that twenty-four hours
without drinking drove the cattle nearly mad, their drivers suffering
almost equally. Finding no water during this search Mr. Jardine was
again in perplexity. Supposing the Mitchell to be 40 or 45 miles
ahead, the cattle could not reach it without water. On the other
hand if the coast were followed, it was probable that on reaching the
Mitchell they would have to trace it up 40 or 50 miles before it
could be crossed. The latter however seemed to be the best course,
if not the only one. The intention of Alexander Jardine was to have
got on to the mule's tracks, and run them over again until he
"pulled" him, but the ground being baked hard, stony, and grassless
Sambo was unable again to pick them up. However, whilst looking for
the mule's tracks they found three more of the horses, on a small
creek, fourteen miles from the camp, which ran into the river below
the last camp on it.
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