256 UNIFORM CHARACTER OF THE DARLING. [cO. VI. 



ing-ly sent six men armed to watch them. They returned about 

 eleven o'clock this morning, with all the cattle except one 

 bullock ; and as the drivers had been closely followed by the 

 natives from day-break, it was then supposed that the animal 

 liad been speared. One of our wheels requiring- new spokes, I 

 proceeded only four miles this day, towards an angle of the 

 river, in order to encamp in a good position, and recover the 

 missing animal alive or dead. The death of a bullock by the 

 hands of the natives, would have been a most unfortunate cir- 

 cumstance at that time, not so much because this was one of 

 our best working animals, as because the dread with which 

 these animals inspired the natives, was one of our best de- 

 fences. If they once learned to face and kill them, it would 

 be difficult for us, under present circumstances, to prevent 

 the loss of many, and still more serious evils might follow. 

 As soon as we took up our ground, therefore, I sent six men 

 in search of the lost bullock; and before night, they had 

 followed his track to within a mile and a half of our camp 

 near the river. Meanwhile we had found, long before their 

 return, that he had fortunately joined the others early in the 



mornmg. 



The river and its vicinity presented much the same appear- 

 ance here that they did 200 miles higher up. Similar lofty 

 banks (in this neighbourhood 60 feet in altitude), with 

 marks of great floods traced in parallel lines on the clayey 

 sides; calcareous concretions — transparent water, with aquatic 

 plants — a slow current, with an equal volume of water — 

 fine gum-trees, and abundance of luxuriant grass. Slight 

 varieties in the feathered tribe were certainly observed ; 

 besides the crested pigeon there was one much smaller, and 

 of handsome but sober plumage; and excellent flavour when 

 dressed. Cockatoos, with scarlet and yellow top-knot, and 

 about six kinds of ))arrots which were new to us ; also, some 

 curious small birds. But of all the birds of the air, the great 

 object of Burnett's search, was one wholly scarlet, of which 

 kind only two had been seen at diti'erent places, far apart. 



