72 



DISCOVERED BY NATIVES. 



observation extended, wherever the hills approach 

 the river on one side they recede from it on the 

 other. Continuing in a more easterly direction in 

 order to avoid the deep watercourses near the banks, 

 we found the country wore a much less arid appear- 

 ance, and changing our direction to N.N. W. in 

 order to ascend some high ranges distant two miles 

 and a half, overlooking the east bank of the river, 

 we came suddenly upon some native tracks, and 

 presently surprised two children, who scampered 

 down the bank in very natural alarm, and were soon 

 lost among the tall reeds. A little further on we 

 passed within 200 yards of three women carrying 

 bundles of bark at their backs ; their anxiety for 

 their children had allowed us to approach thus close 

 unseen ; but no sooner were we discovered, than 

 they raised a shout which was answered from the 

 heights on our right, and from the banks of the 

 river on our left, by parties evidently too numerous 

 to render it prudent to attempt a nearer meeting. 

 We therefore held on our way without appearing to 

 notice them. They were quite naked, with the ex- 

 ception of a slight covering of bark round their 

 waists. We halted at half-past ten a. m. in an open 

 spot in the dry bed of the river, overlooked by a high 

 table hill. Our party looked very much distressed 

 from their half day's work. The weather had been 

 very close, and a good deal of the walking over 

 broken ground ; and these circumstances, coupled 

 with the fact that the thermometer stood at lO?"* 



