DEPARTURE OF THE NATIVES. 247 
they had observed the boy watching them, and 
wished to disappoint him. Whatever the induce- 
ment was, there they were again, and we had as 
little prospect of being able to accomplish our object 
as ever. If any thing could have palliated aggres- 
sive measures towards the aborigines, it would surely 
be such circumstances as we were now in ; our own 
safety, and the lives of our horses, depended entirely 
upon our getting rid of them. Yet with the full 
power to compel them (for we were all armed), I 
could not admit the necessity of the case as any 
excuse for our acting offensively towards those who 
had been friendly to us, and who knew not the 
embarrassment and danger which their presence 
caused us. 
Strongly as our patience had been exercised in 
the morning, it was still more severely tested in the 
afternoon — for eight long hours had those natives 
sat opposite to us watching. From eight in the 
morning until four in the afternoon, we had been 
doomed to disappointment. About this time, however, 
a general movement again took place ; once more they 
collected their spears, shouldered their wallets, and 
moved off rapidly and steadily towards the south-east. 
It was evident they had many miles to go to their 
encampment, and I now knew we should be troubled 
with them no more. Leaving the boy to keep 
guard again upon the hill, the man and I dug a 
large hole, and buried all our provisions, harness, 
pack-saddles, water-casks, &c. leaving the dray 
