running strong. When we arrived at the Walsh, two horse
teams had been camped there for a fortnight, and the owners told us the
river was uncrossable. After putting the bullocks on grass, my mate (who
was a splendid bushman), rode into the river. The water being clear, he
was able to zig-zag a sand bank, avoiding deep water, and found we could
get the waggons across by putting the goods on the guard rails. This we
did that night unknown to the owners of the other teams who were camped
farther on, but out of sight. In the morning we yoked up, and passed
them, stating we were going to attempt crossing. This they declared was
impossible, but came down to see us make the attempt. We only had our
shirts on, and rode our horses bare-back. We made the crossing
successfully, and camped on the northern bank. The river came down again
that night, and delayed the horse teams another week. When we reached
the Mitchell River, we found there were forty teams of all sorts and
sizes waiting to cross. The next day my mate said that the river was
fordable, and he would cross. We led the way, followed by the others.
Quite a little village of people of both sexes camped that night on the
north side of the Mitchell. Our troubles were now over, and we had
thirty miles of easy travelling, past Mount Mulgrave to the Palmer
River.

There was such a quantity of stores arriving at the one time that we
could not dispose of ours, so it was arranged that Wilson should take
his team to Cooktown, and purchase a load jointly for us, and that I
should remain, put up a tarpaulin store for the goods, and dispose of
them as opportunity offered. To do this I decided to sell my bullock
team and horses, as I did not know how long I should remain.

In the meantime, another diggings called Purdie's Camp broke out forty
miles up the river, so I purchased some more stores and engaged a horse
team to carry all the goods there at L40 per ton. The only grass on the
road was that known as "turpentine." This the horses would not eat,
consequently we had to feed them on flour and water. On arrival, I
disposed of everything at high prices. Thus flour, 200lb. bag for L20,
and other things at like values.

When at Purdie's camp, a packer--that is, a carrier using pack
horses--came in with his horses, one of which had thrown his shoe. This
rendered the horse useless to travel over the stony ridges. The packer
wanted horse-shoe nails, so, as a joke, a carrier named Billy