DAY 10
Mother, myself, and three girls, as the morning was fair, walked on before. It was such a relief to get away from that place that I never enjoyed a walk more. We gathered most delicate nosegays from the flowering shrubs that grew amongst the trees. You must understand that the whole of the road from beginning to the end of the mountains is cut entirely through a forest, nor can you go in a direct line to Bathurst from one mountain to another, but you are obliged often to wind round the edges of them, and at times to look down such precipices as would make you shudder. We ascended. Our cart had now three bullocks, as we had so much trouble to get on with two, but we were worse off than ever. As the ascent became worse they refused to drag, and every few minutes first one and then another would lie down. The dogs were summonded to bark at them and bite their noses to make them get up. The barking of the dogs, the bellowing of the bullocks, and the swearing of the men made our heads ache, and kept us in continual terror. That was exactly the case every day of the journey. Frequently it was necessary we should all get out, and more frequently our fears made us scream out: "Oh ! do let us get out. I am sure there is danger"
At length we came to a hill so steep it seemed as if we could never get up it. We alighted, and seating ourselves on a fallen tree, waited for the event. We were on the side of it; in front it was almost perpendicular ; behind was a valley so deep the eye could hardly distinguish the trees at the bottom. To gain the top of this mountain the road wound along the side. The first dray with the horses got up. They were then brought back to assist the rest with the bullocks, but they could not succeed in raising them from one rock to another. With great noise a sudden effort was made, and one shaft was broken. This had to be repaired as well as we could, some of the luggage was taken off, and with the assistance of the other horses, etc., it was got up; the other was got up in like manner.
When at the top the men, who were much fatigued, sought for a spring of water, and with the addition of a bottle of rum, were refreshed. We again set off, and for the last two miles it was perfectly dark, attended by heavy rain. You can suppose the danger and misery we rode in, not being able to see where we went. We were obliged to go on until we came to water. There our tent was pitched in the road, and was dark, damp, and dirty. We were obliged to remain in the cart until the bedding was put in the tent. Of course we again lay down in our clothes. This very fatiguing day's journey we had only accomplished eight miles. For fear I should tire you with a repetition of the same scenes, I will now tell you that every day on the journey from Emu to Bathurst we were subject to the same things, such as our bullocks lying down constantly; the others, not able to drag their load, compelled to have the assistance of the horses, which caused great delay.
Our provisions consisted of half a pig, which was salted for us at Emu, and some beef. We had flour to make bread, tea, sugar, butter, and when we stopped at night we made our tea and had some cold meat. It was our man's business every night to boil a piece of meat for the next day, and bake a cake under the iron pot. Breakfast and supper were the only meals we had. I used to take a small basket in the cart with me, a little just to keep us from starving, and some drink for baby, and during the eleven nights we rested in the woods, Hawkins never laid down until about three in the morning, when the overseer would get up and watch, and never but twice did he take his clothes off; as we occupied the tent, his only resting-place was the cart. It rained the next morning, and everything was very uncomfortable.
