CHAPTER VI. 
CAUSE OF HOSTILITY OF THE NATIVES — WELL SUNK UN- 
SUCCESSFULLY — OVERSEER SENT TO THE EAST THE 
SCOTT EXAMINED ROCK WALLAEIE OVERSEER’S 
RETURN ANOTHER VISIT TO LAKE TORRENS — BOGGY 
CHARACTER OF ITS BED — EXTRAORDINARY EFFECTS OF 
MIRAGE AND REFRACTION — RETURN TO THE CAMP SUPPLY 
OF WATER EXHAUSTED — LEAVE THE DEPOT — THE 
MUNDY — THE BURR MOUNT SERLE LAKE TORRENS TO 
THE EAST— MELANCHOLY PROSPECTS. 
August 16 . — Upon reaching the camp the ex- 
traordinary behaviour of the natives was soon 
explained to me. At the time when I left the depot 
on the 11 th of August, in giving the overseer 
general directions for his guidance, I had among 
other matters requested him, if he found any natives 
in the neighbourhood, to try and get one up to the 
camp and induce him to remain until my return, 
that we might, if possible, gain some information as 
to the nature of the country or the direction of the 
waters. In endeavouring to carry out my wishes, 
it seems he had one day come across two or three 
natives in the plain, to whom he gave chase when 
they ran away. The men escaped, but he came 
up with one of the females and took her a pri- 
soner to the camp, where he kept her for a couple 
of days, but could gain no information from her ; 
