PARTY OF NATIVES. 
101 
water ; and leaving them to feed under the super- 
intendence of the native boy, took my gun, and 
walked seven or eight miles up the creek, under a 
scorching sun, to look for water, examining every 
gorge and nook, with an eagerness and anxiety, 
which those only can know who have been similarly 
circumstanced ; but my search was in vain, and I 
returned to the encampment tired and disappointed. 
Out of what was left of our water, the boy and my- 
self now made each a little tea, and then gave the 
remainder to the horses ; after which we laid down 
for an hour whilst they were feeding. About four 
in the afternoon, we again saddled them, and moved 
homewards, riding, as before, the whole night, with 
the exception of about an hour, when we halted to 
feed the horses, upon meeting with a rich bed of the 
succulent geranium, of which they were so fond. 
August 16 . —Travelling on steadily, we began 
early in the afternoon to draw near to the depot ; 
and when within a mile and half of it, I was sur- 
prised, upon looking back, to see two natives trying 
to steal upon us with spears, who, as soon as they 
perceived they were observed, rose up, and made 
violent gestures of defiance, but at once desisted from 
following us. A little further on, upon a rise not 
far from the depot, I was still more astonished to 
see at least thirty of these savages ; and I hurried 
forwards as quickly as possible to ascertain what it 
could mean, not without some anxiety for the safety 
of my party. 
