NATIVE BURIAL-PLACE. 
187 
coast, we were enabled to be liberal in our presents of iron 
hoop, which they eagerly received. We calculated that we 
should reach the principal junction in about fifteen days 
from this place. 
The natives left us to pursue our solitary journey as soon 
as the boat was reloaded. Not one of them had the cu- 
riosity to follow us, nor did they appear to think it neces- 
sary that we should be attended by envoys. We stopped 
for the night upon the left bank ; and close to a burial- 
ground that differed from any I had ever seen. It must 
have been used many years, from the number of bones that 
were found in the bank, but there were no other indications 
of such a place either by mounds or by marks on the trees. 
The fact, therefore, is a singular one. I have thought that 
some battle might have been fought near the place, but I 
can hardly think one of their battles could have been so de- 
structive. 
We had now only to make the best of our journey, 
rising at dawn, and pulling to seven and often to nine 
o’clock. I allowed the men an hour from half-past eleven 
to half-past twelve, to take their bread and water. This 
was our only fare, if I except an occasional wild duck ; but 
these birds were extremely difficult to kill, and it cost us so 
much time, that we seldom endeavoured to procure any. 
Our dogs had been of no great use, and were now too 
weak to have run after anything if they had seen either 
kangaroos or emus ; and for the fish, the men loathed them, 
and were either too indifferent or too much fatigued to set the 
