214 RIDE TO THE DARLING. [Cll. IV. 



31ay 24. — The party moved this morning about seven 

 miles towards the west, until Oxley's Table-land bore 125°. 

 We travelled chiefly across plains, destitute of grass ; and 

 from which we had good views of that strangely named hill, 

 never seen by Oxley, and in fact, not a table-land. A native 

 came after us, bearing a small piece of canvass, which had 

 been thrown away at the former camp. He accompanied us 

 during the rest of the day's journey, and I gave him a toma- 

 hawk, and a seventh part of my old sword blade. He con- 

 tinued at the camp, and asked for every thing he saw, but 

 we took care not to understand him. All over these plains 

 the ground was so soft, being quite clear of roots or swai-d, 

 that the cart wheels sunli veiy deep in it. The soil, never- 

 theless, appeared to be excellent, although it was naked like 

 fallow land, for the roots of the umbelliferous plants which 

 grew there, had so little hold, that they were easily set loose 

 by the winds, and lay about the surface. At dark, five 

 natives advanced along our track, shouting, but remaining 

 at a distance. I sent two men to them (one with a fire-stick), 

 in order to tell them we were going to sleep. Two of the 

 party were old men, one having hoary hair, and all five 

 carried spears, which they stuck in the ground, and sat 

 down, as soon as our people went up to them. After that 

 interview, they decamped towards the Bogan. 



3Iay 25. — Early this morning, the same men came to a 

 tree, at some distance from the tents. I went to them and 

 shewed them my watch, compass, &c. ; when they pointed 

 to the northward, making motions by which I sujjposed, 

 they meant to represent three courses of the sun ; and I 

 therefore concluded, that they had seen me on the Karaula 

 three years before. I then gave them a piece of my broken 

 sword, and set off" with a party on horseback, to see the 

 river Darling. ]3y half-past ten, I made this river, at a 

 flistaiice of eight miles from our camj), by riding first, three 

 miles Avest, and tlieii fivo in the direction of 20° north of 

 west by conipas;?. The people with me immediately declared, 



