NATIVES PERISHING FROM FAMINE. 
137 
A perusal of these sheets will ere this have impressed on 
the reader’s mind, the peculiarity of that fortune which led 
us from the Castlereagh to the creek, at which alone our 
wants could have been supplied. Had we wandered down 
the river, as we undoubtedly should have done had we re- 
cognised it as such, the loss of many of our animals would 
have been the inevitable consequence, and very probably a 
final issue would have been put to our journey. It is only 
to those who are placed in situations that baffle their own 
exertions or foresight, that the singular guidance of Prov- 
idence becomes fully apparent. 
It would appear that the natives were dying fast, not from 
any disease, but from the scarcity of food ; and, should 
the drought continue, it seemed probable they may become 
extinct. 
The men found the body of a woman covered with leaves 
near the tents, and very properly buried it. We made Fri- 
day a day of rest for ourselves, as indeed was necessary ; 
and on the following morning proceeded down the river, 
and encamped on a high bank above it, at the base of which, 
our cattle both fed and watered. 
At this spot one of the largest gum-trees I had ever seen 
had fallen, having died for want of moisture 5 indeed, the 
state of the vegetable kingdom was such as to threaten its 
total extinction, unless a change of seasons should take 
place. 
It may be worthy of remark that, from our first arrival 
