[*Our method, on these expeditions, was to steer by compass, noting the
different courses as we proceeded; and counting the number of paces, of
which two thousand two hundred, on good ground, were allowed to be a mile.
At night when we halted, all these courses were separately cast up, and
worked by a traverse table, in the manner a ship's reckoning is kept, so
that by observing this precaution, we always knew exactly where we were,
and how far from home; an unspeakable advantage in a new country, where one
hill, and one tree, is so like another that fatal wanderings would ensue
without it. This arduous task was always allotted to Mr. Dawes who,
from habit and superior skill, performed it almost without a stop, or an
interruption of conversation: to any other man, on such terms, it would
have been impracticable.]
At a very short distance from Rose Hill, we found that they were in a
country unknown to them, so that the farther they went the more dependent
on us they became, being absolute strangers inland. To convey to their
understandings the intention of our journey was impossible.
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