206 A NATIVE AVOUNDED. [CH. IV. 



to the west and south-'west, on all of which I took bearings 

 with the theodoHte. Their surface was naked and rocky, 

 only a few trees consisting of pine (or callitris), and some 

 dwarf gum-trees appearing on them ; but the country within 

 two miles of their base, was more densely wooded than that 

 nearer the Bogan . There were callitris pyramidalis, acacia 

 longifolia, and eucalyptus, amongst the trees, and the soil 

 contained fragments of quartz, mixed with red earth. I 

 heard from the summit, the mogo of a native at work on 

 some tree close by, but saw neither himself, nor the smoke of 

 his fire. I returned in time to put the party in motion 

 by twelve o'clock ; and after a journey of 8J miles, we 

 encamped, as usual, near the left bank of the Bogan. 

 Water seemed more abundant in this part of the river, for, 

 on the three last occasions, we had found some, as soon 

 as we approached the bank. The pond near our present 

 encampment was large and deep, and there were others 

 above and below it. As the party were pitching the tents, I 

 was, according to my usual custom, in the bed of the Bogan 

 with the barometer, when I heard, as from a pond lower down? 

 some hideous yells, then a shot, and immediately afterward 

 our overseer shouting "hold him" ! I hurried up the bank and 

 saw a native running, bleeding, and screaming most piteously. 

 He was between me and our tents, which were beyond some 

 trees, and quite out of sight from the Bogan ; but one or 

 two men, on their way for water, soon drew near. The over- 

 seer came to mc limping, and stated, that, on approaching the 

 pond with his gun, looking for ducks, this native was there 

 alone, sitting with his dog beside a small fire ; that, as soon as 

 he saw Burnett, he yelled hideously, and ruiming at him in 

 a furious manner up the bank, he immediately threw a fire- 

 stick and one of his bommercngs, the latter of which struck 

 Burnett on the leg, the otlier having passed close over his 

 shoulder. The native still advancing upon him with a bom- 

 mercng,he discharged his piece in his own defence, alarmed, 

 as any man must have boon, under such circumstances. 



