on the main stream two miles further,
making a total of 10 miles for the day's journey. (Camp LXXXV.
Nonda.)

'February' 17.--The lowest camp of the Brothers on their first trip
was passed to-day at about 6 miles. The total distance they
estimated they had travelled down the river on that occasion was 40
to 45 miles, as it will be remembered that they went 6 or 7 miles
beyond this camp on the 1st of February. The true distance to the
turning point by Mr. Richardson's reckoning, was estimated at 35
miles, which is probably correct. Mr. Richardson in his journal of
to-day's date says, "they told me they had travelled 20 miles North
and 30 miles West." A glance at sheet No. 14 will shew this to have
been an error; and in a foot-note at February 2nd, he states, "I
afterwards found that these distances were incorrect. The true
distances West and North respectively from the 82nd camp to the point
in our track where the Leader turned back, are about 24 miles W. and
7 N." Now, considering the tortuous course of the river, the nature
of the country, the weather, and obstacles of the creeks, 6 miles is
not a great error in westing. Mr. Richardson's own reckoning,
generally, despite his advantage over the Brothers, in having nothing
to do but follow the cattle, was not more to be depended upon, whilst
the results of his observations by the sextant were not so much so,
as he naively informs us he did not think he error in Latitude was
more than 15 miles! It appears evident therefore that the dead
reckoning of the explorers was of equal, if not greater value, as far
as the journey was concerned, than the surveyor's, the chief result
and use of whose presence in the party is, that we have been
furnished with a very excellent and interesting map of the route; but
it by no means assisted the Leader in the piloting of the Expedition,
or resolved his doubts when at fault, either at this point or on
leaving the Einasleih in search of the Lynd. The party camped at the
end of about two miles on the right bank of a broad deep creek
running in from S.W., when after turning out, some of them went
fishing, but only one small cat-fish was caught.

'February' 18.--A slight rain fell during last night, but cleared
off before morning. The creek was crossed at about a mile from the
camp, cattle, horses, and men having to swim. The former took it
like water-dogs, and the latter had as usual to carry their saddles,
packs, and "traps" o