For some time they subsisted upon nutritious roots, which they had adopted the precaution to take with them.

When these were exhausted they were reduced to the greatest straits, and could be only saved from starving by bleeding the mules and drinking the warm blood.

This is a resource which could not be repeated.

The animals were also very poor, though enough of dry and scanty grass was found to keep them alive.
The whole party became frightfully emaciated, and they began to fear that they should be compelled to kill some of their mules.

But the men themselves had become so weak it was with difficulty they could carry their rifles.