CHILDREN ABANDONED. 
89 
come near them, and at last fairly ran away, leaving 
at their fire two young children who could not 
escape. I then went to their camp and examined 
the bags and property which had been left, and 
amongst other things found two kangaroo skins 
full of water, each containing from six to eight 
quarts ; it was quite muddy, and had evidently been 
taken from a puddle in the plains, and carried to the 
present encampment in the bed of the watercourse. 
Having helped ourselves to some of the water, I tied 
a red pocket handkerchief round one of the children, 
as payment for it and returned to our own camp. 
August 5. — During the night I was taken very ill 
again, and felt quite weak when I arose this morn- 
ing, but circumstances admitted of no delay, and 
I was obliged to go on with my exploration : I con- 
tinued to trace up the creek, which I found to be 
large and lined with gum-trees for many miles 
among rocky and precipitous hills, but altogether 
without water, and as I knew of none of this re- 
quisite, of a permanent character, behind me, I de- 
termined to retrace my steps again to Mount 
Deception range. In doing so, I had to pass near 
the place from whence the natives had taken flight, 
and from curiosity called to see if the children had 
been taken away ; to my surprise and regret I found 
them still remaining, they had been left by their 
unnatural or terrified parents without food, and 
exposed to the inclemency of a cold winter’s night ; 
the fire had gone out, and the eldest of the children 
