CHAPTER VI. 



Proposed movements— Hot wind— Heavy rains set in — Country impassable for 

 several days — Excursion to the plundered camp of Mr. Finch — Recover the 

 cart and trunks — Bury the bodies — Columns of smoke — Signals of the natives 

 — Courage and humanity of one of the men — Homeward journey continued 

 — Difficult travelling — Civility of the tribe first met — Musquitoes trouble- 

 some — Regain the Nammoy — Ascend Mount Warroga— Re-cross the Peel — 

 Conclusion. 



We had arrived at the point, where I considered it neces- 

 sary to quit our former route, and cross the open country 

 towards the range, that we might thus fall into our old track 

 within a few days' journey of our last camp on the Nammoy. 

 This direction would cut off ten days' journey of the route out- 

 ward, and extended across open plains, where the party would 

 be much more secure than in the woods, at a time when the 

 natives had given us so much cause to be vigilant. But these 

 plains, however favourable, afforded only an accidental ad- 

 vantage, for had the situations of wood and plain been re- 

 versed, we must still have endeavoured to penetrate by the 

 route, which was the most direct. 



Feb. 13. — Keeping the lagoon on our right, we travelled, 

 as its winding shores permitted, towards the hills, and we 

 thus made a good journey of ten miles, in the direction of 

 Mount Frazer. In our way, we crossed a chain of ponds 

 which entered the lagoon from the east, and was doubtless a 

 branch from some of the channels, crossed by us in our out- 

 ward journey ; but it was difficult to say which, from the 

 winding course and number, of those which thus intersect 

 the country. 



When we had proceeded a few miles, a loud cooy was 

 heard from the banks of the lagoon, and on perceiving smoke 

 ascending also, I rode across to ascertain what natives were 

 there ; but although I found newly-burnt grass and a tree 



