CH. VI,] , RESOLVE TO RETURN. 271 



as civilly as I could, giving to one, who appeared to be their 

 chief, a nail. I soon afterwards entered my tent, and they 

 went northward towards the river, motioning that they were 

 going for food, but that they would return and sleep near us. 

 I became now apprehensive, that the party could not be 

 safely separated under such circumstances, and when I as- 

 certained, as I did just then, that a small stream joined the 

 Darling from the west, and that a range was visible in the 

 same direction beyond it, I discontinued the preparations I 

 had been making for exploring the river further with pack 

 animals, and determined to return. The identity of this 

 river with that which had been seen to enter the Murray, now 

 admitted of little doubt, and the continuation of the survey 

 to that point, was scarcely an object worth the peril likely 

 to attend it. I had traced its course upwards of 300 miles, 

 through a country which did not supply a single stream, 

 all the torrents which might descend from the sharp and 

 naked hills, being absorbed by the thirsty earth. Over the 

 whole of this extensive region, there grew but little grass, and 

 few trees available for any useful purpose, except varieties 

 of acacia, a tree so peculiar to these desert inteinor regions, 

 and which there seemed to be nourished only by the dews of 

 night. 



Scarce an hour had elapsed, after I had communicated 

 my determination to the party, when a shot was heard on the 

 river. This was soon followed by several others, which were 

 more plainly audible, because the wind was fortunately from 

 the north-west ; and as five of the bullock-drivers and two 

 men, sent for water, were at that time there, and also the 

 tribe of kins; Peter, it was evident that a collision had taken 

 place between them. The arrival of the other tribe, who 

 still lingered on our right front, made this appear like a 

 preconcerted attack ; and two of the tribe again came for- 

 ward, just as the shots were echoing along the river, to ask 

 for fire and something to eat. Their apparent indifference 



