Narrative of an Expedition Undertaken Under the Direction of E. B. Kennedy

We left Sydney on the 29th of April, 1848, in the barque "Tam O'Shanter"
(Captain Merionberg); in company with H.M.S. "Rattlesnake."

Our party consisted of the following persons: Mr. E. B. Kennedy,
(leader,) Mr. W. Carron, (botanist,) Mr. T. Wall, (naturalist,) Mr. C.
Niblet, (storekeeper,) James Luff, Edward Taylor, and William Costigan,
(carters,) Edward Carpenter, (shepherd,) William Goddard, Thomas
Mitchell, John Douglas, Dennis Dunn, (labourers,) and Jackey, an
aboriginal native of the Patrick's Plains tribe.

Our supplies and equipment for the journey had been most fully
considered, and were estimated by Mr. Kennedy as amply sufficient for a
journey so short as that we then anticipated.

Our live stock consisted of twenty-eight horses, one hundred sheep, three
kangaroo dogs, and one sheep dog. Our dry provisions comprised one ton of
flour, ninety lbs. of tea, and six hundred lbs. of sugar. Besides these
necessary supplies for subsistence on the road, we took with us
twenty-four pack-saddles, one heavy square cart, two spring carts, with
harness for nine horses, four tents, a canvas sheepfold, twenty-two
pounds gunpowder, one hundred and thirty lbs. shot, a quarter cask of
ammunition, twenty-eight tether ropes, each twenty-one yards long, forty
hobble chains and straps, together with boxes, paper, &c., for preserving
specimens, firearms, cloaks, blankets, tomahawks, and other minor
requisites for such an expedition, not forgetting a supply of fish-hooks
and other small articles, as presents for the natives.

After a tedious passage of twenty-two days, we arrived at Rockingham Bay
on the 21st May; and even here, at the very starting point of our
journey, those unforeseen difficulties began to arise, which led us
subsequently to hardships so great and calamities so fatal.

On casting anchor, Mr. Kennedy, in company with Captain Merionberg,
proceeded in a boat to examine the shores of the Bay, and to determine on
a suitable landing place for the horses, but returned in the evening
without having been able to discover one.

The attempt was renewed the next morning, and continued during the entire
day; and on the morning of the 23rd of May Mr. Kennedy and Captain
Merionberg returned to the ship with the intelligence that they had
discovered a spot where the horses might be landed with tolerable safety,
and where, too, there was plenty of grass and water. This was an
important desideratum, as we had lost one horse and eleven sheep on the
voyage.

The water round the shores of the bay was very shallow, in consequence of
which the vessel could not approach close inland, but was compelled to
cast anchor about a quarter of a mile from the shore, and this distance
the horses had to swim.

In the afternoon the vessel was anchored off the landing place, and early
on the following morning (May 24th) the tents, tether ropes, and
sheepfold were taken ashore, with a party to take care of the horses when
landed. At ten o'clock AM., slings having been prepared, we commenced
hoisting the horses out of the hold, and lowering them into the water
alongside a boat, to the stern of which the head of each horse was
secured, as it was pulled ashore. One horse was drowned in landing, but
all the others were safely taken ashore during the day. The weather this
day was very cold, with occasional showers of rain.