en miles off, but to our great disappointment a very high tide
had totally obliterated all marks from the sand and left us in perplexity
and doubt. Concluding however that the missing party must be in advance
of us, and that they could not fail to observe the papers which had been
offered to their notice at the mouth of the Garban River, we turned our
steps that way; left a paper of directions in the event of their being
behind us, and carefully examined both beach and sandhills, as well as
the country immediately in rear of them. Twelve miles brought us to the
mouth of the river, and there we found everything as we had placed
it--not a mark near the beach except the footsteps of the native dog
prowling about the sandhills, and nothing which could lead to a belief
that the spot had been visited since we last left it. Somewhat
disappointed, although rejoicing in having now hemmed the unfortunate
absentees up into a narrow limit, within which we knew they MUST be
wandering towards Perth, we joined our party at Neergabby shortly after
dark, and observed on our way the traces of five natives who were
confidently said by Warrup to be Perth natives, sent to look after us
with intelligence. They had come along the coast from the south as far as
the mouth of the river, and had struck inland to the south-east on their
return. The conclusions of this intelligent lad on the occasion were
afterwards found to be strictly correct, even to the names of the men who
composed the party.

PROVIDENTIAL DISCOVERY OF THEM.

The early morning of the 16th found us all in busy preparation for the
day's proceedings and relying with reasonable confidence on a successful
issue to our exertions. The remainder of the party were sent back with
one horse to Kadjelup, whilst my indefatigable companion Mr. Spofforth
accompanied me, with Kinchela and the two natives and four horses, to
resume our examination of the beach to the north. Fifteen miles in a
north-west direction brought us to the desired spot, but still no sign
was apparent of its having been visited by any human being since
ourselves; we however commenced a close examination to the northward, and
at the end of a mile and a half had the infinite satisfaction of falling
in with three of the missing party, in the persons of Ruston, Stiles, and
Clotworthy, who had formed a portion of the wrecked boats' crews.

THEIR MISERABLE CONDITION.

The state of distress and exhaustion in which they were