CHAPTER VII. 



Commencement of the homeward journey — Tlie cattle begin to fail — Halt and 

 endeavour to lighten the carts — Rain comes on — Native conversations at a 

 distance — Party separated to watch the cattle — Illness of some of the men 

 from scurvy — Mr. Larmer's excursion into the country to the eastward — 

 The Spitting tribe again — Return of Mr. Larmer, who had found water and 

 inhabitants — A day's halt — Ride to Greenough's group— View from the 

 summit — Barter with natives beyond the Darling — The Red tribe again 

 — New species of caper eaten by the natives — Importunity of the Red tribe — 

 Cross the Darling — View from the summit of Mount Macpherson — Rain 

 again threatens — Absence of kangaroos and emus on the Darling — The Occa 

 tribe again — Hints to Australian sportsmen— Meet the Fort Bourke tribe ^ 

 Mr. Hume's tree — Return to Fort Bourke — Description of that position — 

 Saltnessof the Darling — The plains — The river supported by springs — Traces 

 of floods — Extent of the^basin of this river — Its breadth — Surface of the plains 

 — Geology of the Darling — Woods — Gum acacia abundant— Grasses — Gene- 

 ral character of the natives — Their means of existence — Nets used by them 

 — Superstitions — Condition of the females — Singular habits of a rat — Security 

 of a species of ants— Birds — Fishes — Apprehended scarcity of water on 

 leaving the Darling — Six of the cattle dead from exhaustion — Rest of two 

 days at Fort Bourke — Visited by the Fort Bourke tribe. 



July 12. — Early this morning, ten men returned to the 

 river, witli orders to raise the bullock to the bank, but after 

 they had done so, it again lay down, unable to move, the legs 

 having become, probably, cramped or benumbed from re- 

 maining so long fast in the mud. They then descended the 

 riv^er about two miles, to where the other bullock lay, which 

 they were equally unable to move. No natives appeared, 

 or were even heard ; and thus we might be considered to 

 occupy the left bank of the river, all along our front. We 

 broke up the canip at ten a.m. and turned our faces home- 

 wards. Our old track was a tolerably well beaten road, 

 and, therefoie, nmch easier for the bullocks, especially those 

 of the leading cart ; it was also no longer necessary to face 



