they were out of meat, and the party had started without breakfast, there being nothing to eat.  He therefore camped at the end of 10 miles to kill a beast. there were a good many delays during the march, chiefly to pull the exhausted horses out of the constantly recurring bogs.  Poor “Lady Scott” especially was with great difficulty got into camp.  Distance 10 miles, N. 1/2 E. (Camp LXXXVII.  Bloodwood)

‘February’ 19.—­To-day was chiefly devoted to rest, and the cutting up, jerking, and smoking of the beef by the whites, the black-boys, after the manner of their race, dividing it pretty equally between sleeping and stuffing.  The meat curing was as usual a slow process, there being no salt, and a gunyah having to be made to smoke it in.  The river was here first observed to have a rise and fall in it of about six inches.  Its width was about a quarter of a mile.

The latitude of this camp (87) is 11 degrees 11 minutes 13 seconds The latitude of camp (82) is 10 degrees 58 minutes 2 seconds The Northing therefore equals 13 minutes 11 seconds

‘February’ 20.—­It commenced to rain at two o’clock this morning, and continued heavily as the party started.  The river again turned to the Westward, to their great disappointment.  The course was continued along it for 9 miles, when they were brought to a stand-still by a deep creek with boggy banks, twenty yards wide, flowing from the South.  It was evidently affected by the tide, as the water was slightly brackish and the edge fringed by a species of mangrove.  A crossing-place was looked for without success, and the camp was finally pitched, as the rain was pouring heavily. (Camp LXXXVIII.)

‘February’ 21.—­This morning the Brothers, taking old Eulah with them, swam across the creek, alligators notwithstanding, and walked to the top of a high stringy-bark ridge on the south side.  Selecting the highest tree he could find (a bloodwood) Alexander Jardine ascended it with Eulah, and from its top branches got a view that finally dispelled the doubts as to their position, and the identity of the stream they had traced down.  Before him, at about 3 miles distant lay the mouth of the river, about 2 miles wide.  Its course could without difficulty be traced from where they were till it debouched into the Gulf waters opposite a small island, which was easily recognized as Barn Island, whilst to the North, Endeavour Straits, and Prince of Wales Island could be distinctly seen.  It was now perfectly plain that the river they had followed was not the Escape.  They had therefore, been deceived a second time.  It received the very appropriate name of Deception, but has since, by the direction of his Excellency Sir George Bowen, been charted, and is now known by the name of the Jardine.  Descending from his perch, after half-an-hour spent in taking bearings by the compass to the different points of interest, Mr. Jardine joined his brother, who at once determined to return to camp 87, it being impossible to cross where they were.  Re-crossing the creek, they rejoined the party, reaching the camp at sun-set, under a heavy downpour of rain.