As we were slowly winding our way among the loose rocks, Brown’s horse got knocked up, and we were compelled to encamp.  After the disasters which had lately befallen us, I became more alive to the chances to which we were exposed, even more so than after Mr. Gilbert’s death; up to which time we had travelled more than a thousand miles, without any great misfortune.  At the commencement of our journey, the cooee of my companions, who were driving the bullocks and horses after me, had generally called me back to assist in re-loading one of our restive beasts, or to mend a broken packsaddle, and to look for the scattered straps.  This was certainly very disagreeable and fatiguing; but it was rather in consequence of an exuberance of animal spirits, and did not interfere with the hope of a prosperous progress:  but, since leaving the Seven Emu River, these calls invariably acquainted me with the failing strength of our poor brutes; and knowing only too well the state of exhaustion in which they were, I was almost constantly expecting to be reminded of it, as I was riding along, which rendered me extremely nervous and restless.  The death of our spare horses did not allow us any more to relieve the others by alternate rests, and we became soon aware of their increasing weakness.  This was considerably aggravated by the necessity under which we were of keeping two horses tethered near the camp, not only to facilitate the finding of the others in the morning, but to form a defence against a possible attack of the natives.

Oct. 27.—­We travelled about seven miles up the river, to lat. 14 degrees 40 minutes in a W.S.W. course:  and to long. 134 degrees 16 minutes, according to my reckoning.  The range still continued along the right bank of the river; and, at length, when it ceased, another range commenced at the left bank.  Here the aspect of the country changed very agreeably.  Fine, well grassed plains of moderate size extended along the river, and between its numerous anabranches:  for the river divided into several Pandanus channels, either running or with chains of water-holes.  These plains were bounded by a range trending east and west, about two or three miles from the left bank of the river.  Smoke was seen beyond it.  Mr. Roper met and spoke with three natives, who did not appear to be afraid of him.  Another of our horses became knocked up, and compelled us to encamp very early in the day, and, as they were all much exhausted, I allowed them to feed at large, without taking the usual precaution of keeping two tethered, in the event of being surprised by the natives.  That this was intentionally taken advantage of seemed probable; for, after night-fall, at the commencement of Charley’s watch, four natives sneaked up to the camp, and were preparing to throw their spears, when they were seen by Charley, who immediately gave the alarm.  We got up instantly, but they had disappeared, and no one but Charley saw anything of them.  I should have been inclined to consider it a hoax, had I not heard their distant cooees as late as 9 o’clock, when I silenced them by the discharge of a gun.