Our sheep also now began to die off: they had up to this time improved rapidly and were doing very well, having, during the absence of the vessel, been regularly tended and driven to the high dry ground to feed; but now the pressure of business was so great that we were compelled in some degree to neglect them, and from this they suffered.

The goats had from some cause never succeeded well.
From the period of their being landed many of the horses had declined very much, and several of them were by this time reduced to a very weakly state.

This originated from the heavy rains and the excessive cold which accompanied them, as well as from some food they had eaten which had not agreed with them.

On the 28th and 29th the rains increased in violence and duration; but we still continued our occupations of completing the packsaddles and arranging the stores in such small packages that they could easily in case of necessity be transported on men's shoulders.
FINAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE MARCH.
Having provided every requisite for the party, such as food, working utensils, soap, tobacco, etc., all of which were arranged in their respective packages, I issued an order that nothing but certain articles of clothing for each individual were to be put upon the ponies.

This step was rendered the more necessary from their weakness and their diminutive size having greatly abridged our intended means of transport.