thed his last at three o'clock. This sad event necessarily
put a stop to my movements, and obliged me to consider what arrangements
I should now have to make.

It appeared, from Joseph's account, that Mr. Poole had not shewn any
previous indications of approaching dissolution. About a quarter before
three he had risen to take some medicine, but suddenly observed to Joseph
that he thought he was dying, and falling on his back, expired without a
struggle.

Early on the morning of this day, and before we ourselves started, I had
sent Mr. Stuart and Mr. Piesse in advance with the chainers, to carry on
the chaining. On the morning of the 17th, before I mounted my horse to
accompany Mr. Browne to examine the remains of our unfortunate companion,
which I determined to inter at the Depot, I sent a man to recall them.

The suddenness of Mr. Poole's death surprised both Mr. Browne and myself;
but the singular fairness of his countenance left no doubt on his mind
but that internal haemorrhage had been the immediate cause of that event.

On the 17th the whole party, which had so lately separated, once more
assembled at the Depot. We buried Mr. Poole under a Grevillia that stood
close to our underground room; his initials, and the year, are cut in it
above the grave, "J. P. 1845," and he now sleeps in the desert.

The sad event I have recorded, obliged me most reluctantly to put Mr.
Piesse in charge of the home returning party, for I had had every reason
to be satisfied with him, and I witnessed his departure with regret. A
more trustworthy, or a more anxious officer could not have been attached
to such a service as that in which he was employed.

The funeral of Mr. Poole was a fitting close to our residence at the
Depot. At the conclusion of that ceremony the party again separated, and
I returned to my tent, to prepare for moving on the morrow.

At 9 a.m. accordingly of the 18th we pushed on to the N.W. The ground had
become much harder, but the travelling was still heavy. At three miles we
passed a small creek, about seven miles from the Depot, at which I
intended to have halted on leaving that place. We passed over stony
plains, or low, sandy, and swampy ground, since the valleys near the
hills opened out as we receded from them. On the 19th I kept the chained
line, but in consequence of the heavy state of the ground we did not get
on more than 8 1/2 miles. The character of the country was that of open
sandy plains, the san