A TARTY OF NATIVES. 
127 
A violent thunder-storm passed over us in the afternoon, 
but it made no change in the temperature of the ah’. The 
weather, although it had been hot and sultry, had fallen 
far short of the intense heat we experienced in crossing the 
marshes of the Macquarie, when it was such as to melt 
the sugar in the canisters, and to destroy all our dogs; 
and our nights were now become agreeably cool. 
We still, however, continued to travel over a dead level, 
nor was a height or break visible from the loftiest trees we 
ascended. A little before we stopped at the creek, we 
surprised a party of natives ; old men, women, and chil- 
dren. They were preparing dinners of fish in much larger 
quantities than they could have devoured — probably for a 
part of the tribe that were absent ; but the moment they 
saw us they fled, and left every thing at our mercy. On 
examining the fish, we found them totally different from 
any in the Macquarie, and took two of the most perfect to 
preserve. In the afternoon one of the men came to inform 
me that the tribe was coming down upon us. 
Mr. Hume and I, therefore, went to meet them. They were 
at this time about 1 50 yards from the tent, but seeing us ad- 
vance, they stopped, and forming two deep, they marched to 
and fro, to a war song I suppose, crouching with their spears. 
We had not, however, any difficulty in communicating with 
them, and I shall detail the manner in which this was 
brought about, in hopes that it may help to guide others. 
When the natives saw us advance, they stopped, and we 
did the same. M r. Hume then walked to a tree, and broke 
