Browne
with me. We had not travelled more than half a mile, on resuming our
journey, when we arrived at a dry salt lagoon, at which the sheep had
stopped. I here determined on leaving two of the drays, in the hope that
by putting an additional team into each of the others we should get on,
although before this we had discovered that Mr. Poole had mistaken his
object, and had inadvertently led us into the thickest of the pinery. The
drivers, however, advanced but slowly with the additional strength I had
given them, and it was clear they would never get out of their
difficulties, unless some other plan were adopted. I therefore again
stopped the teams, and sent Mr. Browne to the eastward to ascertain how
far the ridges extended in that direction, since Mr. Poole's track
appeared to be leading deeper into them. On his return he informed me
that the ridges ceased at about a mile and a quarter; in consequence of
which I turned to the north-east, but the bullocks were now completely
worn out and refused to pull. To save them, therefore, it became
necessary to unyoke and to drive them to water, and as Mr. Browne felt
satisfied he could lead the way to the creek, I adopted that plan, and
telling the men with the sheep to follow on our tracks, we left the
drays, at 6 p.m., taking two of the men only with us, and clearing the
sand ridges at dusk, entered upon and traversed open plains.
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