CH. VII.] CHARACTER OF THE NATIVES. 303 



In the ground beyond the plains, some casuarinae and 

 eucalypti are occasionally seen in the scrubs which grow on 

 the red sand, and an acacia, with a white stem, and spotted 

 bark, there grows to a considerable size, and produces much 

 gum. Indeed gum acacia abounds in these scrubs, and when 

 the country is more accessible, may become an article of 

 commerce. 



The plants, were in general different from those nearer 

 the colony, and though they were few in number, yet they 

 were curious. Of grasses I gathered seeds of twenty-five 

 different kinds, six of which grew only on the alluvial bank 

 of the Darling. Among them were a poa, and the chloris 

 truncata, and stipa setacea of Mr. Brown. The country was, 

 nevertheless, almost bare, and the roots, stems, and seeds, 

 the products of a former season, were blown about on the 

 soft face of the parched and naked earth ; where the last 

 spring seemed, indeed, to have produced no vegetation, ex- 

 cepting a thin crop of an unbelliferous weed. 



The character and disposition of the natives, may be o-a- 

 thered from the foregoing journal of our progress along the 

 river. It seldom happened, that I was particularly engaged, 

 with a map, a drawing, or a calculation, but I was inter- 

 rupted by them, or respecting them. It was evident, that 

 our presents had the worst effect, for although they were 

 given with every demonstration of good will on our part, the 

 gifts seemed only to awaken on theirs, a desire to destroy us, 

 and to take all we had. While sitting in the dust with 

 them, conformably to their custom, often have they examined 

 my cap, evidently with no other view than to ascertain, if it 

 would resist the blow of a waddy. Then, they would feel 

 the thickness of my dress, and whisper together, their eyes 

 occasionally glancing at their spears and clubs. The ex- 

 pression of their countenances was sometimes so hideous, 

 that after such interviews, I have found comfort in contem- 

 plating the honest faces of the horses and sheep ; and even 

 in the scowd of " the patient ox," I have imagined an ex- 



