CH. VI.] A LAKE. 261 



by their gestures and looks to inquire how we had got safely 

 past all the other tribes ; and they were very attentive to our 

 men when yoking the bullocks, of which animals they did 

 not appear to be much afraid. These natives retained all 

 their front teeth, and had no scarifications on their bodies, 

 two most unfashionable peculiarities amongst the aborigines, 

 and in which these differed frorn most others. They sent 

 the gins and boys away, saying they went to drink at the 

 river. We soon moved off, upon which they followed the 

 others. The old man wore a band, consisting of cord of 

 about four-tenths of an inch in diameter, wound four or five 

 times round his head. On examination, we perceived that 

 it was made of human hair. They had no weapons with 

 them. These natives, as well as most others seen by us on 

 the river, bore strong marks of the small-pox, or some such 

 disease, which appeared to have been very destructive among 

 them. The marks appeared chiefly on the nose, and did not 

 exactly resemble those of the small-pox with us, inasmuch as 

 the deep scars and grooves left the original surface and skin 

 in isolated specks on these people, whereas the effects of small- 

 pox with us appear in little isolated hollows, no parts of the 

 higher surface being detached like islands, as they appeared on 

 the noses of these natives. This was what is termed, accord- 

 ino- to Souter, the " confluent" small-pox. We crossed some 

 soft red sand hills, and at ?! miles passed the bank of a beau- 

 tiful piece of water, on which were various kinds of water- 

 fowl. This lake was brimful, a novel sight to us ; the shining 

 waters being spread into a horse-shoe shape, and reflecting 

 the images of enormous gum-trees on the banks. It extended 

 also into several bays or sinuosities, which gave the scenery 

 a most refreshing aquatic character. The greatest breadth 

 of this lake was about 200 yards. It seemed full of fishes, 

 and it was probably of considerable depth, being free from 

 weeds, and continuing so full and clear throughout summers 

 which had drank up all the minor streams. After crossing 

 some soft ei'ound, the Darling having been in sight on our 



