CH. I.] MODES OF DRINKING AU NATUREL. 31 



herd of cattle was feeding ; and one mile further on, we 

 came upon a fine little stream, which was rather difficult to 

 cross, owing to the steepness of the banks. As the men 

 were at work, taking the carts over one by one, the native 

 and I were amused with a large black snake, which was 

 swimming about. On his casting a stone at it, the snake 

 glided swiftly towards him, and the poor fellow took to his 

 heels, cautioning me to keep off, saying it would kill my 

 horse. But he soon returned to the charge, and having suc- 

 ceeded in stunning it with stones, it was at length cut in two 

 with my sabre. On measuring this snake I found it to be nine 

 inches in circumference, and eight feet and a half in length. 

 Beyond that rivulet, the country appeared tolerably open 

 and level, so that we could pursue our course in one direction 

 nearly eight miles. The most conspicuous hill on our right, 

 was named by the native " Barragundy." It was visible 

 during the whole of our day's journey. We at length en- 

 tered upon an open and grassy plain, and found in the skirts 

 of the wood beyond it, a channel containing water in abun- 

 dance, and which was known to the natives as " Carrabob- 

 bila."* Beyond this channel arose a peaked and picturesque 

 range, whereof the highest summit was named " Turi." The 

 water, where we encamped, was hot and muddy, but the 

 blacks knew well how to obtain a cool and clean draught, 

 by first scratching a hole in the soft sand beside the pool, 

 thus making a filter, in which the water rose cooled but 

 muddy. They next threw into this some tufts of long grass, 

 through which they sucked the cooler water thus purified 

 also from the sand or gravel. I was very glad to follow 

 the example, and I found the sweet fragrance of the grass 

 an agreeable addition to the luxury of drinking. But 

 durino; the heat of the forenoon I had observed the female 

 quenching her thirst with still greater satisfaction, byrushing 

 into a pool, and drinking as she sat immersed up to the lip. 



* Even before my men had seen this spot, the native name, in their mouths, 

 was corrupted into " Terrible Billy ".' 



