142 REWARD THE MAN FOR HIS CONDUCT. 
which he said the man had returned to him. The native 
was alone, and when he offered the blanket, kept his spear 
poised in his right hand ; but, seeing that no violence was 
intended him, he lowered his weapon, and walked away. 
I was extremely pleased at this trait of honesty, and 
determined to reward it. On inquiry, I found that the 
men had availed themselves of the day to wash their 
blankets, and that one of them had been flung over a bush 
hanging over the bank of the river, and it was supposed 
that one of the natives must have pulled it down with 
him. In the morning, the tribe went away from their en- 
campment before day-light, as we judged from the cry of 
their dogs, than which nothing could be more melancholy ; 
but about eight, the men made their appearance on the 
hill occupied by the women the evening previously, and 
seemed to be doubtful whether to approach nearer. I went 
out to them, and, with a downward motion of my hand, 
beckoned for them to come to me : they mistook the signal, 
but laid all their spears on the ground, and it was not until 
after the sign had been reversed that they stirred or moved 
towards us. I then got them in a row, and desired Hop- 
kinson to single out the man who had given him the 
blanket. It was, however, with great difficulty that he 
recognised him, as the man stood firm and motionless. At 
length, after walking two or three times along the line, he 
stopped before one man, and put his hand on his shoulder, 
upon which the manner of the native testified as to the 
correctness of his guess. 
