188 Kennedy's expedition. 



but they seemed to construe our sig-nals 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 

 guns. We however fired at them^ and although 

 none were hurt^ they appeared much frightened at 

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

 in the direction taken by the five of our party who 

 had gone fishing*^ and for the safety of whom we 

 began to be alarmed j our fears were increased^ by 

 hearing the report of a gun 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 5 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 flio-ht 

 as fast as they could. 



Sept. IQth. — 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 vegetable, 

 it being the only description of food of the kind that 

 we had been able to obtain throughout our journey. 

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

 "w hen 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 



