Hargreaves was again attacked by fever during
the night, but thanks to heavy doses of quinine, was
better by the following afternoon. Having nothing
particular to do, I climbed a small ridge to the north
of the camp and came upon a truly marvellous sight.
Almost from my feet away to the north and east, as
far as the eye could reach, were thousands upon thousands
of doe antelope with their young. The mothers
were mostly feeding, while the young ones were either
lying down and resting, or being urged on by their
mothers. All had their heads turned towards the
west, and were travelling slowly in that direction,
presumably in search of the fresh young grass springing
up in the higher western tablelands.
Everyone in camp turned out to see this beautiful
sight, and tried, with varying results, to estimate
the number of animals in view. This was found very
difficult however, more particularly as we could see in
the extreme distance a continuous stream of fresh herds
steadily approaching; there could not have been less
than 15,000 or 20,000 visible at one time. In all probability
it was the sight of vast herds like these that
induced Captain Deasy to give Antelope Plain its name,
as he reports having seen them when first he pitched
his camp there.
Snow fell at intervals during the day and the
following night. We seized the opportunity of a slight
lull to load up the ponies and make a march of six
miles in fair comfort, then a terrific hurricane swept
over the country, compelling a temporary halt as no
headway could be made against the wind. The storm,
however, cleared the air, and the journey was continued
till dusk, when the camp was pitched beside a
small fresh-water lake, about a mile in circumference.
This lake lay in the middle of an immense rolling