wylie’s selfishness. 
57 
tea-tree. After tracing the stream until it had ceased 
running, and merely became a chain of ponds of 
salt water, I returned to the camp a good deal 
fatigued ; Wylie came in soon after, but had got 
nothing but a few yams. The general character of 
the country on either side the watercourse, was un- 
dulating, of moderate elevation, and affording a con- 
siderable extent of sheep pasturage. The cockatoos 
of King George’s Sound, (without the yellow crest) 
were here in great numbers. Kangaroos also 
abounded ; but the country had not brush enough to 
enable us to get sufficiently near to shoot them. 
During the day Wylie had caught two opossums, 
and as these were entirely the fruit of his own 
labour and skill, I did not interfere in their disposal ; 
I was curious, moreover, to see how far I could rely 
upon his kindness and generosity, should circum- 
stances ever compel me to depend upon him for a 
share of what he might procure. At night, there- 
fore, I sat philosophically watching him whilst he 
proceeded to get supper ready, as yet ignorant 
whether I was to partake of it or not. After select- 
ing the largest of the two animals, he prepared and 
cooked it, and then put away the other where he 
intended to sleep. I now saw that he had not the 
remotest intention of giving any to me, and asked 
him what he intended to do with the other one. 
He replied that he should be hungry in the morning, 
and meant to keep it until then. Upon hearing this 
I told him that his arrangements were very good, 
