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13

When one has such trouble to get things done the necessity of which every sensible person would at once
perceive, it makes one regret more and more that he should have gone on an expedition with men whose ideas are
limited to bush fires and who because they know how to ride horses and drive any cattle and live on
rough and dirty fare they are the best judges of everything wherein horses are made useful. If it please
God that I ever return from this expedition I shall have received a lesson that will make me take great care
never again to go on such an affair except with men of money choosing who are willing to render
burdens. I told Sid and told Michael Durack that unless things went differently on shore I should return to
Port Darwin in the schooner for I would have no bother and no responsibility with men who would never follow the
letter. Sid professed his willingness to follow my directions and Michael Durack said he would take care that
things should be different on shore and that he would consult with me respecting everything. If they choose to go another way
I shall leave them to follow it and do the best they can for themselves.

We have now sailed down Cambridge Gulf and a grander harbour there does not exist in Australia.
Though not so pretty as that of Sydney it is six times the size and is very safe with plenty of deep water.
The Admiralty chart seems to have been conscientiously done so well that the Captain of the schooner (Murray) had no
difficulty in bringing her down to her present position that is at the mouth of the Gut which I think
if I recollect rightly is about forty five miles from the mouth of the gulf.
The rocks are rather broken so that most of the country around would be impossible for horses to travel.
On looking across the country one sees hill after hill in range towering up and the country seems
desolate and barren affording no food for anything but a few birds. Where we now lie the
land is much better and on going ashore to select a camping place we saw many pigeons and two wallabies