104 
DISTRESS FROM THIRST. 
large scarlet-and-yellow instead of a pine-yellow top- 
knot. 
Having staid about half an hour with them, we re- 
mounted our horses, and struck away from the river into 
the plains, while the natives went up its banks to join 
their hordes. Those whom we saw were about twenty- 
seven in number and the most of them were strangers. 
It was some time after sunset before we reached the little 
plain on which we had arranged to sleep, and when we 
dismounted we were in a truly pitiable state. I had been 
unable to refrain from drinking copiously at the river, and 
now became extremely sick. Mr. Hume had been scarcely 
more prudent than myself, but on him the water had a 
contrary effect, as well as upon Hopkinson. The tinker 
was the only man fit for duty, and it was well for us that 
such was the case, as the horses made frequent attempts 
to stray, and would have left us in a pretty plight had they 
succeeded. We reached the camp on the following day 
a little before sunset, nor was I more rejoiced to dismount 
from my wearied horse than to learn that everything in 
the camp had been regular during our absence, and that 
the men had kept on the best terras with the natives^ 
who had paid them frequent visits. 
The bullocks had improved, but were still extremely 
weak, and as the horses we had employed on the last jour- 
ney required a day or two’s rest, it was arranged that we 
should not break up our camp until the 12th, beyond 
which period we could not stop, in consequence of the low 
