The overseer was so earnest, however, and so anxious for me to stop for the night, that greatly against my own wishes, and in opposition to my better judgment, I gave way to him and yielded.

The native boys too had made the same request, seconding the overseer's application, and stating, that the violence of the wind made it difficult for them to walk against it.
The horses having been all hobbled and turned out to feed, the whole party proceeded to make break-winds of boughs to form a shelter from the wind, preparatory to laying down for the night.

We had taken a meal in the middle of the day, which ought to have been deferred until night, and our circumstances did not admit of our having another now, so that there remained only to arrange the watching of the horses, before going to sleep.

The native boys had watched them last night, and this duty of course fell to myself and the overseer this evening.

The first watch was from six o'clock P.M.to eleven, the second from eleven until four A.
M., at which hour the whole party usually arose and made preparations for moving on with the first streak of daylight.
To-night the overseer asked me which of the watches I would keep, and as I was not sleepy, though tired, I chose the first.