NATIVE VILLAGE. 69 



half-past three, p. m. in a north-east direction ; 

 passing through a lightly timbered plain, that had 

 been evidently at no distant date exposed to the 

 ravages of fire. At half-past four we came to a 

 bend of the river, trending N. 56" E. and S. Sr W. 

 Passing several trees still on fire near the river, 

 after another short halt, which the state of the 

 atmosphere no less than the nature of the ground 

 rendered desirable, we resumed our north-east 

 course, but were compelled to make a considerable 

 westerly detour, in order to clear the deep water- 

 courses intersecting the banks at this place, and 

 which, extending nearly to the base of the hills, 

 rendered the fatitfues and labours of the march addi- 

 tionally and needlessly heavy. Just before dark we 

 came upon a native village, near the foot of a bare 

 rocky hill, having a northern aspect, and lying, 

 about one mile south-west of the river. It contained 

 thirteen huts of paper bark, standing in a bare 

 stony plain, and with no signs of being at this, time 

 inhabited. We found here considerable difficulty 

 in forcing our way through the tall and thickly 

 growing reeds which lined the bank. The next 

 reach in the river trended N. W. for about a mile, 

 and then turned off N. N. E. at the foot of a hiah 

 rockv range. The next turn in the course brought 

 us upon a yet burning native fire. Under ordinary 

 circumstances such an indication of the near presence 

 of natives, of whose intentions, whether hostile or 

 otherwise, I had no means of judging, would have 



