82 thomas's welcome. 



joined us from the north side of the river, probably 

 belonged to that district ; and that, while we had 

 been absent, the other tribe had come up to the 

 boat from the south. It was probably the jealousy 

 between the two tribes, or the ceremonious intro- 

 duction at meeting, that had caused all the shouting 

 and uproar, which we had taken for preparations 

 for hostility. None of the south tribe appeared to 

 be armed, though several of the others were. We 

 called the latter the Cockatoo tribe, from their wear- 

 ing white cockatoo feathers stuck in their hair. 

 Several on both sides were smeared with bands of 

 red or white paint. The two tribes sat apart from 

 each other, our old friends on the cliff above the 

 landing place, and the others on a flat a little farther 

 up the river. We saluted our old friends by dancing, 

 on which they began dancing, laughing, and singing, 

 the others sitting still and looking on. As soon as 

 we had dined we went ashore again, and our friends 

 rushed down to meet us. Thomas came up, and 

 embraced me several times, making a purring noise ; 

 and whenever a new face cam<e up, he put his arm 

 round me again, and spoke to him ; introducing me, 

 I suppose, as his particular friend. Ince, Melville, 

 and I went with them along a path-way down the 

 river, and both tribes followed us. They were very 

 gentle in their manners and careful of us, one man 

 going before each of us and stopping whenever he 

 came to a hole or a stump among the grass, and 

 pointing it out, in order that we might not hurt our- 



