472 
CAPTAIN STURT’S REPORT 
ance, hut always shewing a willingness to save vs trouble , and 
to do whatever we desired them to do. Nothing indeed ctfuld 
have been more satisfactory to us than our intercourse with these 
•poor people, or more amusing than the spirits and feelings to 
which they have given way before us, when uncontrolled by fear. 
Many indeed have continued with us for some time, and have 
evinced sincere and marked sorrow at leaving us. I have made 
it a rule to give blankets to the old and infirm, and tomahawks 
and knives to the young men, and they perfectly understand the 
reason of this distinction. Finding too, that they consider kan- 
garoos as their own property, we have almost invariably given 
them all the animals the dogs have killed, and have endeavoured 
to convince them that we wish to be just, and have the kindest 
feelings toward them. In this humane duty I have been most 
cordially assisted both by Mr. Poole and Mr. Browne, and I must 
add, by the conduct of my men towards the natives, which re- 
flects very great credit upon them. We have received very great 
assistance from our guides , who have always smoothed the way to 
our communication with the different tribes ; and I have earnestly 
to recommend Nadbuck, who has accompanied us from Moorunde 
to this place, to the favour of the Governor, and to request that 
he may be rewarded in such manner as his Excellency thinks fit, 
from the funds of the expedition. We find that Mr. Eyre’s in- 
fluence has extended to this place, and that he is considered in 
the highest light by all the natives along the Darling. In their 
physical condition they are inferior to the natives of the Murray 
in size and strength, but we have seen many very handsome men, 
and, although diminutive in stature, exceedingly well propor- 
tioned. The tribe at Williorara, Laidley’s Ponds, numbers about 
eighty souls ; the greater proportion women and children. One 
of them, Topar, accompanies us to the hills with another native, 
Toonda, who has been with us since we left Lake Victoria, and 
who is a native of this tribe. He is a very singular and remark- 
able man, and is rather aged, but still sinewy and active ; Topar 
is young, and handsome, active, intelligent, and exceedingly good 
natured ; — with them I hope we shall be able to keep up our 
friendly relations with the natives of the interior. 
