The sky cleared, and it became warmer towards noon.
Wednesday, 19th June, 1861.--Night calm; sky during first part
overcast with cirrocumulus clouds, most of which cleared away
towards morning, leaving the air much colder; but the sky remained
more or less hazy all night, and it was not nearly as cold as last
night.
About eight o'clock a strong southerly wind sprung up, which
enabled King to blow the dust out of our nardoo seed, but made me
too weak to render him any assistance.
Thursday, 20th June, 1861.--Night and morning very cold, sky clear.
I am completely reduced by the effects of the cold and starvation.
King gone out for nardoo; Mr. Burke at home pounding seed; he finds
himself getting very weak in the legs. King holds out by far the
best; the food seems to agree with him pretty well.
Finding the sun come out pretty warm towards noon, I took a
sponging all over; but it seemed to do little good beyond the
cleaning effects, for my weakness is so great that I could not do
it with proper expedition.
I cannot understand this nardoo at all--it certainly will not agree
with me in any form; we are now reduced to it alone, and we manage
to consume from four to five pounds per day between us; it appears
to be quite indigestible, and cannot possibly be sufficiently
nutritious to sustain life by itself.
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