212 A TRIBE OF NATIVES. [CH. IV. 



On the third day, the two preceding having been passed 

 without water, the animals would have been unable to go 

 further. 



The specimen brought from the hill Ly Mr. Larmer, ap- 

 peared to be a quartzose conglomerate. 



May 22. — I continued ray journey along the Bogan, and in 

 crossing and re-crossing it once, we passed several reaches of 

 water. The country was generally open, and we encamped 

 on another fine grassy plain, after travelling about twelve 

 miles. This day, in chasing an emu, I dropped a telescope, 

 which had been in my possession twenty-four years, having 

 used it in the survey of many a field of battle. 



May 23. — We proceeded as usual. The calls of the 

 natives, first heard at a distance in the woods, having become 

 more loud, and at length incessant, I answered tliem in a 

 similar tone ; and having halted the carts, I galloped over a 

 bit of clear rising-ground, towards the place whence the 

 voices came, followed by five men. A tribe of eighteen or 

 twenty natives were coming forward, but the sight of my 

 horse galloping, made those in the rear turn back, when I 

 immediately alighted, and walked towards them with a 

 green tuft. The two foremost and strongest of the party 

 came forw^ard, and when 1 sat down, they advanced with 

 bommerengs in hand. Seeing, that they retained these 

 weapons, I arose, upon which they, understanding me imme- 

 diately, threw the bommerengs aside. I then Avent up to the 

 two in advance, the tribe following behind. The leader had 

 lost an eye, and the three principal men seemed very strong 

 fellows. I invited them to come forward, but they hesitated, 

 until my escort, which was still some way back, sat down. 

 I mounted my horse to shew the animal's docility, and thus 

 remove their dread of it ; but they immediately turned to 

 run, whereupon I alighted, and led their chief a little nearer, 

 but they were very unwilling to approach my party. At 

 length I presented the one-eyed leader with a tomahawk, 

 and they all sat down. This native seemed a manly intel- 



