Hemmed in by impassable morasses and impenetrable thickets, in some places they were cut off from approaching even the river, by formidable belts of mangroves.

In fact, the Jardine River, as it is now called, heads almost from the eastern shore, from Pudding Pan Hill in fact, Kennedy's fatal camp.

It overlaps the Escape River, and after many devious windings and twistings, flows across the Cape out on to the Gulf shore.
It was not until the end of February that, on the subsidence of some of the flooded creeks, the brothers made a successful effort, and got into somewhat better travelling country.

The next morning they came across some blacks who were eager to be on good terms, and hailed them to their surprise with shouts of "Franco; Allico; Tumbacco".

These cries had been taught them by Mr.Jardine, who was getting anxious because of his sons' delay, and had done all he could think of to help them.