188 KENNEDY^S EXPEDITION. 



but they seemed to construe our sig^uals to make 

 them comprehend this^ into indications of fear on 

 our part ', this increased their courage^ and strength- 

 ened their determination to drive us away if possible, 

 althoug'h they would not come within reach of our 

 g'uns. We however fired at them, and althoug'h 

 none were hurt, they appeared much frig-htened at 

 the report of the fire-arms. They left us and went 

 in the direction taken by the five of our part}^ who 

 had g'one fishing-, and for the safety of whom we 

 beg'an to be alarmed ', our fears were increased, by 

 hearing' the report of a g'un a few minutes after- 

 wards. It seemed they had seen our party fishing- 

 by the side of the river, and instantly ran at them, 

 to attack them ; but one of the party placed on the 

 bank as a look-out, fired at them as they came up, 

 just as they were preparing- to throw their spears, 

 on which they turned their backs, and took to flight 

 as fast as the}^ could. 



Sept. 1 Gfh. — This morning- after breakfast, 

 Mitchell and myself took two horses and re-crossed 

 the river. We went about two miles back to a spot 

 where I had seen some Portulaca, intending- to bring- 

 some of it back to the camp to boil as a veg-etable, 

 it being- the only description of food of the kind that 

 we had been able to obtain throug-hout our journey. 

 We filled a bag- with it and returned to the camp, 

 when I found half a damper, one meal's bread, had 

 been stolen from the stores during- my absence. 

 This was not the first theft of the kind that had 



