74 
EMUS — N ATI VE TOMB. 
two streams traced by Mr. Oxley will be a singular feature 
in the geography of the interior. 
We were just about to land, to prepare our dinner, when 
two emus swam across the river a-head of us. This was an 
additional inducement for us to land, but we were unfor- 
tunately too slow, and the birds escaped us. We had push- 
ed in to the right bank, and found on ascending it, that the 
reeds with which it had hitherto been lined, had partially 
ceased. A large plain, similar to those over which we had 
wandered prior to our gaining the flooded region, stretched 
away to a considerable distance behind us, and was backed 
by cypresses and brush. The soil of the plain was a red 
sandy loam, covered sparingly with salsolm and shrubs • 
thus indicating that the country still preserved its barren 
character, and that it is the same from north to south. 
Among the shrubs we found a tomb that appeared to have 
been recently constructed. No mound had been raised over 
the body, but an oval hollow shed occupied the centre of 
the burial place, that was lined with reeds and bound to- 
gether with strong net-work. Round this, the usual walks 
were cut, and the recent traces of women’s feet were visible 
upon them, but we saw no natives, although, from the num- 
ber and size of the paths that led from the river, in various 
directions across the plain, I was led to conclude, that, at 
certain seasons, it is hereabouts numerously frequented. Fra- 
ser gathered some rushes similar to those used by the natives 
of the Darling in the fabrication of their nets, and as they 
had not before been observed, we judged them, of course, 
to be a sign of our near approach to that river. 
