INTERCOURSE WITH NATIVES. 
97 
bear no proportion to their bust in point of muscular strength ; 
but the facility with which they ascend trees of the largest 
growth, and the activity with which they move upon all oc- 
casions, together with their singularly erect stature, argue 
that such appearance is entirely deceptive. 
The old men slept very soundly by the fire, and were the 
last to get up in the morning. M‘Leay’s extreme good hu- 
mour had made a most favourable impression upon them, 
and I can picture him, even now, joining in their wild song. 
Whether it was from his entering so readily into their mirth, 
or from anything peculiar that struck them, the impression 
upon the whole of us was, that they took him to have been 
originally a black, in consequence of which they gave him 
the name of Rundi. Certain it is, they pressed him to 
shew his side, and asked if he had not received a wound 
there — evidently as if the original Rundi had met with a vio- 
lent death from a spear-wound in that place. The whole 
tribe, amounting in number to upwards of 150, assembled 
to see us take our departure. Four of them accompanied 
us, among whom there was one remarkable for personal 
strength and stature. — The 21st passed without our falling- 
in with any new tribe, and the night of the 22nd, saw us 
still wandering in that lonely desert together. There was 
something unusual in our going through such an extent 
of country without meeting another tribe, but our com- 
panions appeared to be perfectly aware of the absence of in- 
habitants, as they never left our side. 
Although the banks of the river had been of general 
VOL. II. 
H 
