CH. Ill] SEARCH SOUTH-AVEST. 185 



the two, had a bone-haudlecl table-knife stuck in the band 

 over his forehead ; one had also an iron tomahawk. The rest 

 of the tribe were concealed about, as we heard their cooys, 

 but no others ventured to appear. I thought, I coukl not 

 give them further proof of no harm being intended to them, 

 than by quietly going on my way, and I hoped that this 

 friendly demonstration might remove any apprehensions re- 

 specting Cunningham, if he chanced to meet the tribe. The 

 greatest danger to be apprehended from natives, is on a 

 stranger first approaching them, when, chiefly from fear, 

 they are apt to act on the offensive. 



Continuing on the same line, I crossed another small water- 

 course, falling north-east ; and beyond it were hills o^ mica- 

 schist and quartz, which sloped rather boldly to the south- 

 ward. We then entered one of the finest tracts of forest land 

 I ever saw. It was there three miles in width, and bounded 

 on the south by another low hill of quartzose gravel, the soil 

 of which was indifferent. We at last tied up our horses on 

 a little patch of forest land, and laid down under a few 

 boughs, as it was quite dark and began to rain. 



April 22. — After a fruitless ride of twelve more miles, still 

 further southward, in pursuit of distant columns of smoke, 

 we turned our horses' heads towards the camp, on a bearing 

 ofN.56° E.,in which direction some summits appeared. We 

 crossed much good whinstone land, and arrived at a small 

 ridge, where 1 ascended a hill, consisting of a reddish granite 

 or porphyry. From this height I again saw Harvey's and 

 Croker's ranges, and various hills to the southward, but I 

 was disappointed in the view of the western horizon, which 

 was confined to a very flat-topped Avoody range. I took as 

 many angles as I could, from a round pinnacle of porphyry, 

 which barely afforded standing room. 



From this hill, we saw smoke near another eminence, 

 which bore N. 36° E., distant about seven miles ; and in 

 that direction, we proceeded (as it led homewai'ds), but 

 twilight overtook us, as we crossed its side, on which the 

 bushes appeared to have been recently burnt. 



