WATCHED 13 Y THE NATIVES. 245 
plains where we were encamped, appeared to be, 
to get the fruit of the Mesembryanthemum, which 
grew there in immense quantities, and was now just 
ripe ; whilst the scrub, by which these plains were 
surrounded, seemed to be alive with wallabie, adding 
variety to abundance in the article of food. 
We were now on the horns of a very serious di- 
lemma : our horses were completely fagged out, and 
could take the dray no further. We were sur- 
rounded by natives, and could not leave it, and the 
things upon it, whilst they were present (for many 
of these things we could not afford to lose) ; and on 
the other hand, we were twenty-two miles from any 
water, and our horses were suffering so much from 
the want of it, that unless we got them there shortly, 
we could not hope to save the lives of any one of 
them. 
Had the natives been away, we could have buried 
the baggage, and left the dray ; but as it was, we 
had only to wait patiently, hoping they would soon 
depart. Such, however, was not their intention ; 
there they sat coolly and calmly, facing and watch- 
ing us, as if determined to sit us out. It was most 
provoking to see the careless indifference with which 
they did this, sheltering themselves under the shade 
of a few shrubs, or lounging about the slopes near 
us, to gather the berries of the Mesembryanthemum. 
I was vexed and irritated beyond measure, as hour 
after hour passed away, and our unconscious tormen- 
tors still remained. Every moment, as it flew, lessened 
