NEW SOUTH WALE S. 263 



them an aspect hardly human. The dress (if such it could be called) 

 of the women, was a loose ragged gown, and of the men, a strip of 

 blanket wrapped round the middle, or a pair of tattered pantaloons 

 which but half performed their office. 



Mr. Threlkeld's conveyance did not arrive, and not being able to 

 get another, they determined to walk to Lake Macquarie, and for 

 this purpose they resorted to the natives as gnides, and by a great 

 deal of coaxing and promises of bull (grog), their natural repugnance 

 to make an exertion was overcome. An evidence of the pride which 

 characterizes these natives was shown in this interview. One of 

 them, whose sobriquet was Big-headed Blackboy, was stretched out 

 before the fire, and no answer could be obtained from him, but a 

 drawling repetition, in grunts of displeasure, of " Bel (not) me want 

 to go." After promises and expostulations enough to overcome all 

 patience, Mr. Hale, tired of his obstinacy and stupidity, touched 

 him slightly with his foot, telling him to get up and listen. He 

 immediately arose, and seizing his spear, which was lying near him, 

 turned his side towards Mr. Hale, and stood looking at hitn askance, 

 with an expression of demoniac malice, as though he would have run 

 him through with pleasure ; but he did not speak a word in reply to 

 all that was said to him. 



Friday, 13th December, the morning being chilly, the blacks, who 

 are very susceptible to cold, did not make their appearance till some 

 hours after sunrise. At half-past eight our travellers set out in 

 company with a troop of natives, headed by the two whom they had 

 hired. The first of these was named Jemmy, the best-natured and 

 most intelligent of all ; the other was Big-headed Blackboy, who 

 had got over his sulks. Jemmy refused to start until he had received 

 a couple of shillings, which he forthwith converted into a loaf of 

 bread and a bottle of grog. When about a mile from the town he 

 asked permission to take a drink ; and a cup of bark was produced 

 from a thicket where it had been hidden, whereupon the contents of 

 the bottle as well as the loaf were shared out among the troop. The 

 two guides took no more than an equal portion; for, according to 

 the custom of the natives, all share alike. The cup was made of a 

 piece of the bark of the ti-tree, which resembles that of the birch, 

 about a foot square. The ends were folded in and tied together, to 

 form a cavity of trough-like shape. Such cups are called by them 

 Taude. The path or cart-road they followed, passed through a hilly 

 country covered with forests. The gum trees were the most preva- 



