Before leaving the city I was invited by the Mayor and Municipality of the town of York, to visit that locality; this invitation I, of course, accepted, as I was supposed to be out on show.  My party now consisted of only four other members besides myself, namely, young Alec Ross, now promoted to the post of second in command, Peter Nicholls, still cook, Saleh, and Tommy Oldham.  At York we were entertained, upon our arrival, at a dinner.  York was a very agreeable little agricultural town, the next in size to Fremantle.  Bushmen, farmers, and country people generally, flocked in crowds to see both us and the camels.  It was amusing to watch them, and to hear the remarks they made.  Saleh and Tommy used to tell the most outrageous yarns about them; how they could travel ten miles an hour with their loads, how they carried water in their humps, that the cows ate their calves, that the riding bulls would tear their riders’ legs off with their teeth if they couldn’t get rid of them in any other way.  These yarns were not restricted to York, they were always going on.

The day after leaving York we passed Mr. Samuel Burgess’s establishment, called Tipperary, where we were splendidly entertained at a dinner, with his brothers and family.  The Messrs. Burgess are among the oldest and wealthiest residents in the Colony.  From hence we travelled towards a town-site called Northam, and from thence to Newcastle, where we were entertained upon our first arrival.  A lady in Newcastle, Mrs. Dr. Mayhew, presented me with a pair of little spotted puppies, male and female, to act for us, as she thought, as watch(ful) guards against the attacks of hostile natives in the interior.  And although they never distinguished themselves very much in that particular line, the little creatures were often a source of amusement in the camp; and I shall always cherish a feeling of gratitude to the donor for them.

At ten miles from Newcastle is Culham, the hospitable residence of the well-known and universally respected Squire Phillips, of an old Oxford family in England, and a very old settler in the Colony of Western Australia.  On our arrival at Culham we were, as we had formerly been, most generously received; and the kindness and hospitality we met, induced us to remain for some days.  When leaving I took young Johnny Phillips with me to give him an insight into the mysteries of camel travelling, so far as Champion Bay.  On our road up the country we met with the greatest hospitality from every settler, whose establishment the caravan passed.  At every station they vied with each other as to who should show us the greatest kindness.  It seems invidious to mention names, and yet it might appear as though I were ungrateful if I seemed to forget my old friends; for I am a true believer in the dictum, of all black crimes, accurst ingratitude’s the worst.  Leaving Culham, we first went a few miles to Mr. Beare’s station and residence, whither Squire Phillips accompanied us.  Our next