CH. VIII.] FRIENDLY INTERVIEW. 317 



the unwonted sound o^ thunder, the first we had heard, after 

 having been 4i months in the interior. The wind had been 

 high during the night, but a dead calm preceded the rumb- 

 ling peals which were first heard, at a great distance. Soon, 

 however, we had the cloud near enough in all its glory, with 

 lightning playing above and about us, until the atmosphere 

 seemed one continued blaze of light; the rain also fell heavily 

 for a short time. At daylight the sky was cloudy, and it 

 seemed that the drought was about to break up ; at least this 

 was the most remarkable change in the weather, which we had 

 met with on the journey ; and as we were doubtful about the 

 state of the ponds of the Bogan, I was well pleased with the 

 prospect of rain. We proceeded to the old camp of May 15, 

 where we again pitched our tents. There was not much rain 

 during the day, but about sunset a heavy cloud, accompanied 

 by thunder and a squall, bi'oke over us. Soon after, the 

 wind lulled, the sky became clear, and in the morning, we 

 found ice on the water ; the atmosphere having resumed its 

 usual serenity. 



Aug. 22. — Early this morning, the cooys of three natives 

 were heard. On meeting them, they went through the usual 

 formalities ; an old man fixing his eyes on the ground, with 

 due decorum. They could say " budgery ;" and by their I'e- 

 peating this word, they appeared, in our eyes, infinitely less 

 savage than the natives on the Darling. They also plainly 

 alluded to the man wounded with small shot, at the en- 

 counter which took place on our formerly occupying the next 

 camp up the Bogan. We understood them to allude to 

 this event, by their tapping rapidly with the finger over the 

 arm and shoulder ; and then pointing towards the place, 

 where the unfortunate rencontre happened. We had been 

 more than usual on our guard, in returning towards the haunts 

 of a tribe where we had, although unwillingly, done such 

 mischief; but these fellows seemed, by their laughing, to ad- 

 vert to it as a good joke, and we, therefore, concluded that 

 the poor fellow had recovered. They asked for nothing, and 



