Our horses were quite unfit for service of any kind, and the late unfortunate attempt had but added to the difficulties by which we were surrounded, and inflicted upon us the additional loss of another valuable animal.

Many and anxious were the hours I spent in contemplating the circumstances we were in, and in revolving in my mind the best means at our command to extricate ourselves from so perilous a situation.

We were still 650 miles from King George's Sound, with an entirely unknown country before us.

Our provisions, when again recovered, would be barely sufficient to last us for three weeks and a half, at a very reduced rate of allowance.

Our horses were jaded and miserable beyond all conception; they could literally scarcely crawl, and it was evident they would be unable to move on again at all without many days' rest where we were.