This lagoon formed part of a big river at flood-time, but the connecting stretches of water had long since dried up for many miles both above and below it.

The question may be asked, Why did I settle down here?
The answer is, that our white companion had become simply an intolerable burden.

He suffered from the most exhausting attacks of dysentery, and was quite helpless.

It was, of course, my intention to have continued my march northward to my old home in the Cambridge Gulf district, because by this time I had quite made up my mind that, by living there quietly, I stood a better chance of escape to civilisation by means of some vessel than I did by attempting to traverse the entire continent.

This latter idea was now rendered impossible, on account of the poor, helpless creature I had with me.