Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 2Grey, George
History
Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 2
Grey, George
Natural history -- Australia -- Western Australia; Western Australia -- Discovery and exploration
Lieutenant Mortimer's party, having made every exertion but in vain to
find the five remaining persons, were compelled at the end of a fortnight
by want of provisions to return to Perth, where they arrived on the 6th
of May; and early the next morning the Surveyor-General, Mr. Roe,
accompanied by Mr. Spofforth (who again volunteered his services) four
men, and two native youths, with five horses, set out in search of those
still missing.
ARRIVAL OF MR. WALKER AT PERTH. JOURNAL OF MR. WALKER'S PARTY.
On the 9th of May, two days after the departure of Mr. Roe's party, Mr.
Walker came into Perth alone, and from his statement, together with what
was gleaned subsequently from the other men, I shall here briefly narrate
what befel them after my departure on the 10th of April.
NARRATIVE OF THEIR PROCEEDINGS FROM WATER PEAK.
On the next day they started at dawn and soon came to a great deal of
scrub; this was the belt of thick wood mentioned in my journal. Mr.
Walker says the men, being disheartened at this, they went down to the
beach and halted about a mile from it; Water Peak Hill being distant
about fifteen miles. Woods said much discontent was caused amongst the
men by its being conceived that they were following a bad course; or,
according to Ruston's expression, that "the steering was very bad."
April 12.
They found a river with pools of water in coarse gravel in which they
caught here two small fish, and travelled six miles through the scrub
along a native path.
April 13.
They started and went down towards the beach. The men cut and cooked some
greens but found no water. Travelled twelve or fourteen miles along the
beach.
Sunday April 14.
They shot a pigeon, two red-bills, and a hawk. In the afternoon it
rained, and they travelled along the beach and got some cockles, and
found a fine stream of water running out from under the rocks. They then
got under the scrub to keep the rain off, having made about eight miles.
April 15.
They again came out on the beach and kept along it. Good travelling. Made
a march of nearly twenty miles.
EXTREME DISTRESS FROM HUNGER AND THIRST.
April 16.
They continued on the beach till they came to a good place for fishing
and caught eighteen. Mr. Walker shot a bird. After eating the fish, they
were all very thirsty.
April 17.
Went into the interior about midday and found a native well six miles
inland; also a large cave in the rocks. The party here procured and ate
some Zamia nuts.
April 18.
They were all sick from the nuts, and turned back to the beach about four
miles but did not reach it.
April 19.
This morning they reached the beach and travelled on until they came to
some high rocks from whence they saw an immense tract of sand. Again this
evening they went into the interior to find water. Boiled some young
trees and ate them.
April 20.
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