CH. vir.] THE "spitting tribe" again. 283 



man already mentioned, (as wanting. part of his nose,) and 

 two strong men. Our party beckoned to them to keep back, 

 but they came over in three canoes. They had been fishing 

 on the river, and had been roasting and eating the fish on the 

 opposite bank. Overseer Burnett offered them his clasp-knife 

 in exchange for a ^' cod" weighing about 19 lbs.* but they 

 would only give a small fish weighing not above one pound , 

 and then coolly went over, and sat down to eat the fish them- 

 selves. Our camp was established about a quarter of a mile 

 from the river, on the edge of a plain, and near a scrub, for 

 the sake of fuel. At four p. m. the alarm Avas given, that 

 the natives were close to the camp, and we no sooner saw 

 them, than the whole of the scrub proved to be on fire, to the 

 imminent danger of our equipment. I sent five men with 

 muskets to them (aw pas de charge) ; and in five minutes, 

 they had retired across the river, two shots having been 

 fired over their heads, as they ascended the opposite bank. 

 It appeared, that this party consisted of eight men, each 

 carrying a spear and a waddy, besides the same boy, who had 

 been seen higher up, and who was observed on this occasion 

 very busy lighting branches in the scrub ; the vile old fellow 

 " sans nose" was one, and also the sullen man, who was the 

 first we had ever seen throw dust. These latter stood on 

 our side, covering the passage of the others, and crossing- 

 last, which manly conduct was the best trait I had seen in 

 their character. On reaching the top of the opposite bank^ 

 they commenced their usual chaunt and demoniac dance, 

 waving burning branches over their heads, brandishing their 

 spears, and throwing their waddies high in the air, even 

 above the lofty trees, all the time retreating in leaping and 

 singing order. It was evident, that our dogs had frightened 

 them ; and at the report of the guns, the tall fellow fell flat on 

 the earth, as he was ascending the opposite bank. Later in 

 the evening, some natives were seen driving the bullocks 

 about on the opposite side, but as they desisted when called 



* Gristes Pcelii. 



