CIl. VII. j HINTS TO AUSTRALIAN SPORTSMEN. 295 



these animals nor emus can approach the Darlmg (owing to 

 the steepness of its banks), except by descending in the dry 

 channels of water-courses, or by gullies; hence, probably, their 

 appearance near Dunlop's creek, which affords an easy means 

 of access ; and hence also, perhaps, the chief motive for the 

 establishment of the native camp in that neighbourhood, 

 from the facility afforded for killing the animals as they ap- 

 proached to drink. Of the kangaroo and emu, it may be 

 observed, that any noise may be made in hunting the latter 

 without inconvenience ; but that the less made in chasing the 

 former the better. The emu is disposed to halt and look, 

 being, according to the natives, quite deaf; but having an 

 eye proportionally keen. Thus it frequents the open plains, 

 being there most secure from whoever may invade the soli- 

 tude of the desert. The kangaroo, on the contrary, bounds 

 onward while any noise continues ; whereas, if it be pursued 

 silently, it is prone to halt and look behind, and thus to lose 

 distance. Dogs learn sooner to take the kangaroo than the 

 emu, although young ones get sadly torn in conflicts with 

 the former. But it is one thing, for a swift dog to overtake 

 an emu, and another thing to kill, or even seize it. Our 

 dogs were only now learning to capture emus, although they 

 had chased and overtaken many. To attempt to lay hold 

 by the side or leg is dangerous, as an emu could break a 

 horse's leg with a kick ; but if a dog fastens upon the neck, 

 as good dogs learn to do, the bird is immediately overthrown 

 and easily killed. The flesh resembles a beef-steak, and it 

 has a very agreeable flavour, being far preferable to that of 

 the kangaroo. 



We passed our old camp of the 10th of June, and taking a 

 new route thence. in a north-east direction; we avoided a 

 bad scrub, and encamped in fine open ground on the river. 

 We were soon hailed by some of our old friends of the Fort 

 Bourke tribe, by far the best conducted natives, that we had 

 seen on the Darling. They asked our men for tomahawks, 

 and I had instructed them to explain, that for three large 



