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causes； were most likely to impede our march； the success of which I knew hinged on our ability； by a rapid movement； to surprise the village before daybreak。
The two rivers were crossed without any material accident： and in pursuit of my resolution； I ordered the guides to conduct us by the nearest route； without heeding difficulty； or impediment of road。 Having continued to push along the river…bank very briskly for three quarters of an hour； we were suddenly stopped by a creek； about sixty yards wide； which extended to our right； and appeared dry from the tide being out： I asked if it could be passed； or whether it would be better to wheel round the head of it。 Our guides answered that it was bad to cross； but might be got over； which would save us more than a quarter of a mile。 Knowing the value of time； I directly bade them to push through； and every one began to follow as well as he could。 They who were foremost had not； however； got above half over when the difficulty of progress was sensibly experienced。 We were immersed； nearly to the waist in mud； so thick and tenacious； that it was not without the most vigorous exertion of every muscle of the body； that the legs could be disengaged。 When we had reached the middle； our distress became not only more pressing； but serious； and each succeeding step； buried us deeper。 At length a sergeant of grenadiers stuck fast； and declared himself incapable of moving either forward or backward； and just after； Ensign Prentice and I felt ourselves in a similar predicament； close together。 'I find it impossible to move； I am sinking；' resounded on every side。 What to do I knew not： every moment brought increase of perplexity； and augmented danger； as those who could not proceed kept gradually subsiding。 From our misfortunes； however； those in the rear profited。 Warned by what they saw and heard； they inclined to the right towards the head of the creek； and thereby contrived to pass over。
Our distress would have terminated fatally； had not a soldier cried out to those on shore to cut boughs of trees*； and throw them to usa lucky thought； which certainly saved many of us from perishing miserably； and even with this assistance； had we been burdened by our knapsacks； we could not have emerged； for it employed us near half an hour to disentangle some of our number。 The sergeant of grenadiers in particular； was sunk to his breast…bone； and so firmly fixed in that the efforts of many men were required to extricate him； which was effected in the moment after I had ordered one of the ropes； destined to bind the captive Indians； to be fastened under his arms。
＇*I had often read of this contrivance to facilitate the passage of a morass。 But I confess； that in my confusion I had entirely forgotten it； and probably should have continued to do so until too late to be of use。＇
Having congratulated each other on our escape from this 'Serbonian Bog；' and wiped our arms （half of which were rendered unserviceable by the mud） we once more pushed forward to our object； within a few hundred yards of which we found ourselves about half an hour before sunrise。 Here I formed the detachment into three divisions； and having enjoined the most perfect silence； in order； if possible； to deceive Indian vigilance； each division was directed to take a different route； so as to meet at the village at the same moment。
We rushed rapidly on； and nothing could succeed more exactly than the arrival of the several detachments。 To our astonishment； however； we found not a single native at the huts； nor was a canoe to be seen on any part of the bay。 I was at first inclined to attribute this to our arriving half an hour too late； from the numberless impediments we had encountered。 But on closer examination； there appeared room to believe； that many days had elapsed since an Indian had been on the spot； as no mark of fresh fires； or fish bones； was to be found。
Disappointed and fatigued； we would willingly have profited by the advantage of being near water； and have halted to refresh。 But on consultation； it was found； that unless we reached in an hour the rivers we had so lately passed； it would be impossible； on account of the tide； to cross to our baggage； in which case we should be without food until evening。 We therefore pushed back； and by dint of alternately running and walking； arrived at the fords； time enough to pass with ease and safety。 So excessive； however； had been our efforts； and so laborious our progress； that several of the soldiers； in the course of the last two miles； gave up； and confessed themselves unable to proceed farther。 All that I could do for these poor fellows； was to order their comrades to carry their muskets； and to leave with them a small party of those men who were least exhausted； to assist them and hurry them on。 In three quarters of an hour after we had crossed the water； they arrived at it； just time enough to effect a passage。
The necessity of repose； joined to the succeeding heat of the day； induced us to prolong our halt until four o'clock in the afternoon； when we recommenced our operations on the opposite side of the north arm to that we had acted upon in the morning。 Our march ended at sunset； without our seeing a single native。 We had passed through the country which the discoverers of Botany Bay extol as 'some of the finest meadows in the world*。' These meadows； instead of grass； are covered with high coarse rushes； growing in a rotten spongy bog； into which we were plunged knee…deep at every step。
＇*The words which are quoted may be found in Mr。 Cook's first voyage； and form part of his description of Botany Bay。 It has often fallen to my lot to traverse these fabled plains； and many a bitter execration have I heard poured on those travellers； who could so faithlessly relate what they saw。＇
Our final effort was made at half past one o'clock next morning； and after four hours toil； ended as those preceding it had done； in disappointment and vexation。 At nine o'clock we returned to Sydney； to report our fruitless peregrination。
But if we could not retaliate on the murderer of M'Entire； we found no difficulty in punishing offences committed within our own observation。 Two natives； about this time； were detected in robbing a potato garden。 When seen； they ran away； and a sergeant and a party of soldiers were dispatched in pursuit of them。 Unluckily it was dark when they overtook them； with some women at a fire； and the ardour of the soldiers transported them so far that； instead of capturing the offenders； they fired in among them。 The women were taken； but the two men escaped。
On the following day； blood was traced from the fireplace to the sea…side； where it seemed probable that those who had lost it； had embarked。 The natives were observed to become immediately shy； but an exact knowledge of the mischief which had been committed； was not gained until the end of two days； when they said that a man of the name of Bangai （who was known to be one of the pilferers） was wounded and dead。 Imeerawanyee； however； whispered that though he was wounded； he was not dead。 A hope now existed that his life might be saved； and Mr。 White； taki