18 
A TRIBE or NATIVES. 
the Macquarie as soon as possible ; for it was evident that 
the country to the southward of it was much more swampy 
than it was to the north : but for some distance below the 
cataract, we found it impossible to effect our purpose. The 
rocks composing the bed of the river at the cataract, which 
are of trapp formation, disappeared at about eight miles 
below it, when the river immediately assumed another cha- 
raeter. Its banks became of equal height, which had 
not before been the case, and averaged from fifteen to 
eighteen feet. They were composed entirely of alluvial 
soil, and were higher than the highest flood-marks. 
Its waters appeared to be turbid aird deep, and its bed 
was a mixture of sand and clay. The casuarina, which 
had so often been admired by us, entirely disappeared, 
and the channel in many places became so narrow as to 
be completely arched over by gum-trees. 
On the 16th, we fell in with a numerous tribe of natives, 
who joined our train after the very necessary ceremonies of 
an introduction had passed, and when added to those who 
still accompanied us, amounted to fifty-three. On this 
occasion I was riding somewhat in front of the party, when 
I came upon them. They were very different in appeai- 
ance from those whom we had surprised at the river ; and, 
from the manner in which I was received, I was led to infer 
that they had been informed of our arrival, and had pur- 
posely assembled to meet us. I was saluted by an old man, 
who had stationed himself in front of his tribe, and who 
was their chief. Behind him the young men stood in a 
