288 GENEROSITY OF THE NATIVES. 
upon the boy two very large pieces, and as soon as 
I made my appearance they were equally liberal to 
me, getting up the moment I arrived at the camp, 
and bringing it over to me of their own accord. 
The supply was a most acceptable one, and we felt 
very grateful for it. Having received as much of 
the kangaroo as would fully last for two days, I gave 
a knife in return to the eldest of the men, with 
which he seemed highly delighted. I would gladly 
have given one to the other also, but I had only one 
left, and could not spare it. The natives remained 
in camp with us for the night, and seemed a good 
deal surprised wdien they saw us re -roasting the 
kangaroo ; frequently intimating to us that it had 
already been cooked, and evidently pitying the 
want of taste which prevented us from appreciating 
their skill in the culinary art. 
January 14. — Upon our leaving this morning 
the natives buried in the sand the remains of their 
kangaroo, and accompanied us a mile or two on 
our road, then turning in among the sand-hills 
they returned to renew their feast. They had been 
eating almost incessantly ever since they arrived at 
the w 7 ater yesterday, and during the night they had 
repeatedly got up for the same purpose. The 
appetites of these people know no restraint when 
they have the means of gratifying them ; they have 
no idea of temperance or prudence, and are equally 
regardless of the evil resulting from excess as they 
are improvident in preparing for the necessities of 
