72 NO AVATER. [CH. III. 



nouiiced very loudly and distinctly. " Witefellow, " or 

 " vvite ma," appears to be their name (of course derived 

 from us) for our race, and this appellation probably accom- 

 panies the first intelligence of such strangers, to the most 

 remote, interior regions. We soon after came upon the bank 

 of a river-course, in the bed of which, although deep, broad, 

 and gravelly, there was no water ; its general direction was 

 westward. At eight miles, we entered upon an extensive, 

 open plain, which reached to the horizon in the direction of 

 10° W. of N. We crossed it, continuing our journey north- 

 ward, until a thick scrub obliged me to turn to the east. 

 At thirteen miles, being again in a Avood, we heard the native 

 axe at work, and, naturally eager to communicate with, or 

 even see the faces of fellow-creatures in these dismal solitudes, 

 I allowed Dawkins to go towards them unarmed, that he 

 might, at least by signs, ascertain where water was to be 

 found. A considerable time baving elapsed without his re- 

 appearance, I went after him, and found him in communi- 

 cation (by signs) with a very civil native, who had just 

 carried a quantity of wild honey to his gin and child, having 

 first offered some to Dawkins. This man betrayed no signs 

 of fear, neither had he any offensive weapons, but he refused 

 to accompany Dawkins to the rest of the party, rather in- 

 viting the latter, by signs, to accompany him. For water, he 

 pointed both to the north-east and south-west, and all around, 

 as if it had been abundant ; numerous pigeons and kangaroos 

 also shewed, that there was some at no great distance; never- 

 theless, we were doomed to pass another night without any, 

 after a long day's journey. 



On quitting the wood, where we met the native, we crossed 

 a plain which ap])eared to slope westward. Night was coming 

 on, and I directed my course towards some tall trees, where 

 we found a hollow, but no water remained in it ; yet here, 

 we were, nevertheless, obliged to encamp. Some of the 

 men, who had set out in search of water, had not returned 

 when it became dark ; but on our sending up ;i rocket, tliey 



