Clumps of bamboo looked wretched, and the party were showing those signs that only thirst can produce... a clump of trees looked greener than others. Thring rode to them, and no one but those who have experienced it can imagine the thrill that ran through every one of us when the magic word WATER was heard... enough water for us in a long stone trough. It seemed as though a kind Providence had left it for us...all hands were most grateful and dear old Kekwick went on his knees, and with tears in his eyes fervently thanked God for this great blessing.” Another time, the horse Bally “suddenly put on a pace as though he were entered for a walking match. Turpin and Lushing Tom followed suit. Our hopes were raised...”Bally knows” was exclaimed...and we were delighted to find an abundant supply.” “Stuart was now nearly helpless. He could not walk without assistance, had to be lifted into the saddle, and when we camped lifted off again and carried to his bed made under the shade of a tree. His feet and legs were very much swollen and quite black. Not one man in a hundred would have gone through the excruciating pain poor Stuart now suffered when in the saddle. We all had a very anxious time, and were afraid that our leader would succumb.” “September 10 The Burke...I am very doubtful of my being able to reach the settled districts. Should anything happen to me I keep everything ready for the worst- my plan is finished, and my journal brought up every night, so that no doubt whatever can be thrown upon what I have done. All the difficult country is now passed, so there is no danger of the party not finding their way back should I be taken away.” The extreme dryness of the season and scarcity of water made progress very slow. In some of the creekbeds, they dug down six feet (nearly two metres) to obtain enough water for all the horses. While the small advance party went ahead scouting and digging for water, the main party camped for nearly three weeks at a pool on the Taylor until further supplies were located. The natives there were very reticent and could not be coaxed nearer. Early one night they set fire to the spinifex, “calling out most lustily at the top of their voices...the scene was very pretty, in fact grand; in the foreground was our camp equipment with the party armed, ready to repel an attack; on the opposite side of the creek was a long line of flames, some mounting high in the air, others more humble kept at a low flickering light; in the midst of the flames the natives appeared... like so many demons dancing... the old man seemed to be performing some mysterious spell... turning and twisting his body and legs and arms into all sorts of shapes...at last they and their fire reached the waterhole.” The natives then rushed down to it and filled their troughs and bags. The elaborate enactment was “apparently to keep us quiet and render us powerless while they replenished their water”. They then went off and camped. Mound Springs By the end of October, the explorers had passed the Centre and one afternoon Stuart was so ill, he could go no further. As well as Auld (who was caring for him) he kept King and Nash there too “in case of my dying during the night, as it would be lonely for one young man to be there by himself.” He spent a dreadful night and next morning they rejoined the party. Auld said “Stuart was lifted off the saddle more dead than alive. A horse was killed, and Kekwick and the cook made some jelly...Now with deference to city cooks, I don’t believe there ever was such jelly as that and the effect it had on Stuart was magical...We set to work to construct an ambulance, McGorrerey the blacksmith making the ironwork from horseshoes. This answered splendidly, and we carried Stuart...a distance of over 400 miles.” By mid November they had reached the South Australian border (as it was then). Hot north winds greeted them. “Thanks be to God, I am once more within the boundary of South Australia, what I little expected about a fortnight ago.” “Bagots Range...arrived at the large waterhole and found it very low indeed; a great number of dead fish all round it...this waterhole does not seem to have received any water for the last two years. The water being old and stagnant, I am afraid will make us ill; we have already been suffering much from stagnant waters we have been compelled to use. I however must give the horses a day’s rest to enable them to do the next and last push, nearly a hundred mile to the first springs.” Coming across some horse tracks, Stuart thought it might be a search party looking for them, as they were overdue, but soon realised it was the “knocked up” horses left on the way. They reached Mr Jarvis’s station on 26th November and received a great welcome, resting there for a couple of days. Stuart continued on with Auld, King and Billiat; Mr Kekwick given command of the party, to follow when the horses had recovered. The returning explorers received Burra Telegraph Office a hearty welcome from the station people along the way and met Mr John Chambers who accompanied Send to a friend… australiasexplorersway.com.au 15
