CAPTIVE FEMALE. 
103 
she either could not be understood, or would not tell 
where there was water, although when signs were 
made to her on the subject, she pointed to the east 
and to the north-west. After keeping her for two 
days, during which, with the exception of being a 
prisoner, she had been kindly treated, she was let 
go with the present of a shirt and handkerchief. 
It was to revenge this aggression that the natives 
had now assembled ; for which I could not blame 
them, nor could I help regretting that the precipi- 
tancy of my overseer should have placed me in a 
position which might possibly bring me into collision 
with the natives, and occasion a sacrifice of life ; an 
occurrence I should deplore most deeply under any 
circumstances, but which would be doubly lament- 
able when I knew that my own party had committed 
the first act of aggression. 
The number of natives said to have been seen 
altogether, including women and children, was 
between fifty and sixty, and though they had yet 
actually committed no overt act against us, with the 
exception of trying to steal upon myself and the 
native boy as we returned ; yet they had established 
themselves in the close vicinity of our encampment, 
and repeatedly exhibited signs of defiance, such as 
throwing dust into the air, shouting, and threaten- 
ing with their weapons, and once or twice, the even- 
ing before my arrival, crossing within a very short 
distance of the tents, as if for the purpose of recon- 
noitring our position and strength ; I determined, 
