Hov. 8, 1858.] GASCOYNE RIVERS, IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 41 



most salutary, as they fled with some precipitation, some of them 

 being evidently wounded; we mounted extra guard for the re- 

 mainder of the night, but they did not again venture to attack us. 



9th May. — Being Sunday we only moved a few miles lower down 

 the river for more grass, and again found ourselves in close proximity 

 to the natives ; in the course of the day several of them made their 

 appearance at the top of a hill overlooking the camp, but appeared 

 afraid to molest us ; they had with them several large white dogs 

 which were evidently of Australian breed. 



10th May. — The river took a south-west course, receiving two 

 large tributaries from the south-east, one of 90 and the other of 50 

 yards in width. The flats were wider and large trees more abund- 

 ant ; the recent floods had, however, been very destructive to the 

 pasture, and removed much of the soil for a considerable distance 

 back from the river. The trap hills here ceased to appear : the last 

 remarkable one lay about 10 miles S.E. of our morning's camp, and 

 had been named Mount Dalgetty. Our evening's bivouac was found 

 to be in latitude 25^ 14', longitude 115*^ 30' E. by account, and its 

 elevation 700 feet above the sea. 



11th May. — Until noon our course along the river was nearly north- 

 west, sandstones beginning to crop out on the banks, and the country 

 generally was poor and scrubby ; from our noon halt to sunset, our 

 course was nearly west; our bivouac being in latitude 25° 02'. 

 The bed of the river had here widened out to 300 yards with an 

 average depth of 30 feet, a small stream running through the sand 

 in the bottom. In addition to the flooded gum, which grows here 

 abundantly, observed in the bed of the river a melaleuca of large 

 size like a paper bark-tree, but having broad leaves resembling the 

 eucalyptus. During the night the natives were very noisy in the 

 vicinity, some of them approaching so close as to startle our horses, 

 keeping us well on the alert; the horses on this, as on several 

 other occasions, appear to have been our principal safeguard against 

 sudden attack. 



12^/t May. — By the time we had commenced loading our horses a 

 large body of natives had collected and approached to reconnoitre 

 our camp ; I advanced towards them to keep them in check until 

 the loads were completed. On observing that I came alone, three 

 natives advanced to meet me, throwing three or four spears at me 

 in a friendly way, which I picked up and stuck in the ground by 

 my side ; this token at once established a good understanding, and 

 after an interchange of presents they followed us for many miles 

 down the river before quitting us. Towards nightfall several of 



