148 REJOINED BY OUR OLD NATIVE GUIDE. 
side. The soil on the flats was better, and less mixed with 
sand than it had been, but the flats were generally covered 
with reeds, though certainly not wholly subject to flood at any 
time. The polygonum still prevailed upon them in places, and 
the blue-gum tree alone occupied their outskirts. From the 
several elevations we ascended, the country to the N.W. ap- 
peared undulating and well wooded ; that to the eastward, 
seemed to be brushy and low. Certainly there was a great 
difference in the country, both to the eastward and to the 
westward. We had frequent views of the mountains we had 
seen, or, I should have said, of a continuation of them. They 
bore nearly west from us at a very great distance all day- 
We fell in with several tribes, but did not see our old friend, 
although, from the inquiries we made, it was evident he 
was well known among them. It would disgust my readers 
were I to describe the miserable state of disease and infir- 
mity to which these tribes were reduced. Leprosy of the 
most loathsome description, the most violent cutaneous 
eruptions, and glandular affections, absolutely raged through 
the whole of them ; yet we could not escape from the 
persecuting examination of our persons that curiosity 
prompted them in some measure to insist upon. 
The old man, whose information had proved strictly 
correct, joined us again on the 4th, and his joy at 
being received into the boat was unbounded, as well 
as the pleasure he expressed at again meeting Hopkin- 
son. He had been a long journey, it would appear, for 
he had not then reached his tribe. As we approached 
