Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/571

 ^^'- f^- ^P'-^^-- ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 545 others went to Sydney, and purchased sheep at £v per head. To get to the capital of New South Wales unhampered with stock was difficult enough ; hut to travel sheep over this immense territory entailed vicissitudes of which people to-day can have no comprehension. Readers of Mr. Simpson Newland's excellent Australian novel, " Paving the Way," will remember the stirring and romantic stories he tells of these overland trips, of dangers from thirst and from the dreaded attacks by the aboriginal inhabitants near the banks of the rivers. Mr. Spicer and his party had similar experiences. The track chosen by them was by way of the Murrumbidgee and the Murray, and along it they pursued a lonely and secluded journey of six months' duration, arriving at the north-west bend of the Murray in January, 1840. For months they needs must be on the alert against surprises by the blacks, or exercise fine generalship to safely cover the long dry stretches. After leaving the Murray, the worst trials began. Two or three days of fierce hot winds endangered their position, and rendered it impossible to get the sheep in full wool to travel at all; and when these little quadrupeds do not want to budge, it reqiiires more than human persuasion to force them. There was no water between the Murray and the hills — about 30 miles. The heat was so great, and their thirst so intense, that the men began to kill the sheep in order to drink their blood ; and it was resolved to send the drays carrying the provisions and water for the men on ahead to search for a supply. Those who were left behind — among whom was Mr. Spicer — suffered keenly. The vehicles did not return as early as was expected, and their anguish from thirst was so acute that they determined to abandon the flock. They trailed along the track of the dray, and walked until they were overcome. At night they were still without water, but the coolness it brought served to slightly lessen their pain. Next morning they again set forth ; and so severe had been Mr. Spicer's suffering that his eyesight was impaired, and he took the wrong track. He plodded on with all his senses centred on the desire for water, and fortunately met two of his men, who told him that he was going back. Kneeling down, he examined the bullocks' tracks, and found that the men were right ; and he at once turned round. After an hour's walking he was delighted to see the drays coming towards him ; and when he I'ound that they carried a good supply of water, the reaction was so severe that he collapsed and fell down, although before that he felt able to walk for miles. Within halt an hour came a violent thunderstorm, with torrents of rain Hooding the whole country, and the danger from want of water was abated. The party then went in search of the sheep, and discovered that their instinct had saved their lives, for they had made straight back to the north-west bend of the Murray. The successful issue from the perilous situation, caused deep thankfulne.ss. On gathering the sheep together, they were found to be about 600 short. Many had been killed by the blacks, and their carcases were found lying on trunks of trees, ready to be eaten. After several adventures and overcoming obstacles more or less heavy, the party reached the River Light, where they soon sold 1,000 ewes for £2 a head. The parties in the transaction divided the remainder among themselves, and Mr. Spicer look his share over to his run at Edwardstown. Unfortunately for himself, the accession of population caused the Governor to resume this land and throw it open to farmers for selection. It