The last day Giles saw Gibson

Ernest Giles and Alfred Gibson had been exploring ahead of the main party, and were now 90 miles from known water behind them. With one pint only remaining of their water, they advanced another eight miles and then Gibson's horse broke down from thirst. Giles considered the land ahead might possibly have better prospects of water, but with them reduced to one horse between two men and with no water supplies in the immediate vicinity, he determined they must return to their known cache of water.

Gibson had swapped his horse the previous day, before two were released to find their own way back to water. He had considered that the horse he had selected was in better condition, but very soon regretted his decision as the cob rapidly deteriorated. In fact all the horses were in poor condition after days without adequate water, and with no or only poor feed on the ground. Giles wished that he had camels, which would have coped better with the trying conditions.

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