CHAPTER VIII. 



The party leaves the Darling— Natives approach the camp during the night- 

 Scared by a rocket— Discovery of a Caper-tree— The kangaroos and emus 

 driven away by the natives — Difference between the plains of the Darling 

 and Bogan— Extreme illness of one ef the party— New-Year's range— A 

 thunder-storm— Three natives remind us of the man wounded— Another 

 man of the party taken ill -Acacia pendula— Beauty of the scenery — Mr. 

 Larmer traces Duck Creek to the Macquarie— A hot-wind—" Talambe" 

 of the Bogan tribe— Tombs of Milmeridien— Another bullock fails— Natives 

 troublesome— Successful chase of four kangaroos— Natives of the Bogan 

 come up— Water scarce — Two red painted natives— Uncertainty of Mr. 

 Cunningham's fate— Mr. Larmer overtakes the party— Result of his survey 

 — Send off a courier to Sydney— Marks of Mr. Dixon— Tandogo Creek and 

 magnificent pine forest — Harvey's range in sight — Improved appearance 

 of the country — Meet the natives who first accompanied us — Arrive at a 

 cattle station— Learn that Mr. Cunningham had been killed by natives — 

 Cookopie ponds— Goobang Creek— Character of the river Bogan— Native 

 inhabitants on its banks — Tlieir mode of fishing — Manners and customs — 

 Prepare to quit the party — The boats — Plan of encampment— Mount Juson 

 — Leave the party and mark a new line of ascent to Harvey's range— Get 

 upon a road —Arrive at Buree. 



Aug. 13. — This morning we finally quited Fort Bourke 

 and the banks of the Darling, to return by our former route 

 along the Bogan. We halted within a mile of our previous 

 encampment, and again drank of the waters of that river, 

 but from a very shallow pond, that w^hich we formerly had 

 recourse to, being quite dry. 



Aug. 14. — We continued the journey most prosperously, 

 all things considered, and bivouacked beside a large pond, 

 two miles beyond our ground of the 23rd May. We saw 

 natives all about, but they did not venture too near us. I 

 supposed they were of the tribe, which formerly behaved so 

 well, when we passed these ponds. About eight p. m. how- 

 ever, we perceived numerous fire-sticks approaching among 

 the bushes ; and though I counted nine in motion, yet I 

 heard no noise. I diiectcd the men to be silent, curious to 



