vines, willows, ferns, and reeds. Here the Count was to be seen breaking a passage with his hands and knees through the centre of the scrub, there throwing himself at full length among the dense underwood, and thus opening, by the weight of his body, a pathway for his companions in distress. Thus the party, inch by inch, forced their way, the incessant rains preventing them from taking rest by night or day. Their provisions, during the last eighteen days of their journey, consisted only of a very scanty supply of the flesh of the native bear or monkey, but for which, the only game the country afforded, the travellers must have perished from starvation. This food, which the travellers described as somewhat of the toughest, was but scantily obtained, and the nutriment it afforded was altogether insufficient for the maintenance of the health and strength necessary for undergoing such fatigue.
On the twenty-second day after they had abandoned their horses, they came in sight of Western Port, and with joy obtained the first view of the water on which a small vessel was riding at anchor. A wreath of smoke observed at the same time to be rising among the trees, told them that some human habitation was at hand. This proved to be the encampment of their friend, Mr. Berry, to whose kindness and hospitality the party were indebted for the speedy recovery of their health and vigour.
