August 5.

We mustered the horses morning and evening, and drove the sheep close to the fire, having one of our kangaroo dogs chained up beside them, and the other one with the sheep dog loose.  We were apprehensive that the natives might attack us.

August 6.

Shortly after we had mustered the cattle this morning, seven or eight natives appeared at the edge of the scrub, in the direction from which we had come.  Just as they approached, an Australian magpie perched upon a tree, and I shot it to show the effect of our firearms.  On hearing the report of the gun they all ran into the scrub, and we saw them no more.  On all occasions it was Mr. Kennedy’s order—­not to fire on the blacks, unless they molested us.  I was anxious on this occasion not to let the natives know how few we were, and was glad to send them away in so quiet a manner.  One of our sheep died this day, and as we had lost several before, and had but little to employ us, we opened it to see if we could ascertain the cause of its death.  We found its entrails full of water.  Our party was now divided into three bodies:  Mr. Kennedy, Jackey, and four others, clearing a way up the mountain; Niblett and three others guarding the stores; whilst myself, Dunn, and Mitchell, had charge of the sheep and horses.  It was necessary, therefore, for us to keep a good lookout, and two of us watched together.

August 7.

Early this morning a man came down to help us with the horses and sheep.  We loaded our horses, with the exception of one, which was too weak and too much bruised from falling to travel.  We turned him toward the open ground, and having packed our horses went on till dark, when we tied our horses to a tree and lay down for the night beside them, although it rained all night.  We had each of us a water can which held five pints, which we filled, and our two water kegs, at the foot of the range, fearing we might not find water in the journey over.

August 8.

At daylight we were afoot and breakfasted, and started immediately after.  We travelled up the hills all day, but made very little progress, owing to the great labour of clearing, and the numerous steep ascents we met with.  We fortunately found water in a low place, and with difficulty lighted a fire, everything being saturated with rain.  We then laid down and endeavoured to sleep, but were unable to do so from the number of small leeches which attacked us.  I was obliged to get up several times in the night, and in the morning I found myself covered with blood.

August 9.