124 HOT WIND. [CH. VI. 



still on fire, also many trees from which the bark had been 

 newly stripped, I could discover no inhabitants. 



These ponds coming from the eastward, at length lay in our 

 way so much, that it was necessary to cross them ; and 

 having eifected this at a dry part of the hollow channel, we 

 encamped on the banks, as it was unlikely that any water 

 might be found beyond, for some distance. It now appeared 

 very probable, from their general direction, that these were 

 a continuation of Bombelli's Ponds, named after my unfor- 

 tunate courier whose bones still lay there. That point, our 

 present camp, and Meadow Ponds, where I intended to 

 strike again into our former track, formed an equilateral 

 triangle, the length of each side being about twenty-two 

 miles. I could, therefore, during the next twenty-two miles 

 of our route, make an excursion to the scene of pillage from 

 any point, which might be most convenient. I preferred the 

 earliest opportunity, in hopes of surprising the natives ; and 

 I accordingly prepared to set out the next morning, accom- 

 panied by Mr. Finch and seven men on horseback, leaving 

 Mr. White with eight men, equally well armed, to guard 

 the camp. By this arrangement, the bullocks which had 

 been rather hard wrought, would enjoy a day's rest. I 

 availed myself of every precaution, as far as prudence could 

 suggest, in selecting a position for our camp, and arranging 

 the carts for defence. A better one against surprise, could 

 not have been found, as it overlooked an open country for 

 several miles on all sides. 



A hot wind, which had blown during the day from the 

 south, bnjught a very gloomy sky in the evening, when the 

 wind veered to the south-east. The sun set amid clouds of 

 a very uncommon appearance, too plainly indicating, that 

 the rain was at length coming. Wc had now, however, 

 left those low levels and dense scrubs, where the natives 

 began to hang al)out us like hungry wolves; and I could 

 nr)f reflect on wli;it might have been the conseciucnce, had 

 wc Itccn delayed <»nly one week longer there, without feeling 



