90 
TERROR OF THE NATIVES. 
about ninety yards in length. The one had much larger 
meshes than the other, and was, most probably, intended to 
take kangaroos ; but the other was evidently a fishing net. 
In one hut, the floor of which was swept with particular 
care, a number of white balls, as of pulverised shells or 
lime, had been deposited — the use of which we could not 
divine. A trench was formed round the hut to prevent the 
rain from running under it, and the whole was arranged 
with more than ordinary attention. 
We had not proceeded very far when we came suddenly 
upon the tribe to which this village, as it might be called, 
belonged. 
In breaking through some brush to an open space that 
was bounded on one side by the river, we observed 
three or four natives, seated on a bank at a considerable 
distance from us ; and directly in the line on which we 
were moving. The nature of the ground so completely 
favoured our approach, that they did not become aware of 
it until we were within a few yards of them, and had 
ascended a little ridge, which, as we afterwards discovered, 
ended in an abrupt precipice upon the river, not more 
than thirty yards to our right. The crack of the dray- 
man’s whip was the first thing that aroused their attention. 
They gazed upon us for a moment, and then started up 
and assumed an attitude of horror and amazement ; their 
terror apparently increasing upon them. We stood per- 
fectly immoveable, until at length they gave a fearful yell, 
and darted out of sight. 
