274 NARROW ESCAPE OF MUIRHEAD. [CH. VI. 



other side, appeared to know this, as they were seen hast- 

 ening also in that direction, so that the timely aid, afforded 

 by the three men from the camp, probably saved the lives of 

 several of the party. When the men returned up the river, 

 they perceived, that the body of the gin had been taken 

 across and dragged up the opposite bank. The whole party 

 had then to proceed to the higher part of the river in order 

 to collect the cattle, and thus they approached the place, 

 where the newly-arrived tribe were crossing to join the 

 others. Near this spot, the men next endeavoured to raise a 

 bullock, which had got fixed in the bank, and while Robert 

 Muirhead accidentally stooped to lift the animal, two spears 

 were thrown at him from an adjoining scrub with such force, 

 that one was broken in two, and the other entered three 

 inches deep in a tree beside him. He escaped both, only by 

 accidentally stooping at the moment. Such were the parti- 

 culars, collected from the men after their return, from this 

 affray. 



The spears appeared to have been thrown by some mem- 

 bers of the fishing tribe, who had been seen with those newly 

 arrived natives from my camp, and who had probably by this 

 time, heard of what had taken place lower down the river. 

 Tlius the covetous disposition of these people drew us at 

 length (notwithstanding all my gifts and endeavours to be 

 on friendly terms), into a state of warfare. 



We met frequently with instances of natives, receiving 

 from us all they could want on one day, yet approaching us 

 on the next, with the most unequivocal demonstrations of 

 enmity and hostility. Indeed, it seemed impossible, in any 

 manner, to conciliate these people, when united in a body. 

 We wanted nothing, asked for nothing ; on the contrary, we 

 gave them presents of articles the most desirable to them ; 

 andyet they beset us as keenly and with as little remorse as 

 wild beasts seek their prey. It was a consolation, however* 

 under such unpleasant circumstances, to have men on whose 

 courage, at least, I could depend, for numbers might now be 



