Next morning we found that our sable friends had eaten so much of the kangaroo that there was great difficulty in getting them to move.  However, they at length consented to accompany us, and we proceeded five or six miles further on the Swan River road, to a place where a party of soldiers were stationed.  Here the temptation of a fresh supply of kangaroo proved irresistible, and with the exception of one, who was Lieutenant Warburton’s servant, the natives all left us to resume the pleasant occupation of eating.  The gastronomic feats performed by these persons are really surprising; and in the work recently published by Mr. Eyre the reader will find some curious details on the subject.

We now took a westerly direction, for a tract of good country lying about thirty-five miles from the Sound, a little to the westward of the road to Swan River.

PITFALLS FOR KANGAROOS.

On our way we crossed several short trenches, cut by the natives for pitfalling kangaroos, which were here very numerous.  They were dug across the runs of the animal, and covered with a slight layer of brush or grass, and were very narrow at the bottom, so that the prey could get no footing to bound out.

HERDS OF KANGAROOS.

I have never, at any other place, seen similar contrivances resorted to by the aborigines; in this neighbourhood they have probably been suggested by the great abundance in which the kangaroo is found.  I am certain there could scarcely have been less than a hundred in a herd.  It was curious to observe them hopping along over the grass or underneath the trees, with the large males bringing up the rear of a certain number of does.  We had several very beautiful courses, but the dogs being footsore were beaten on all occasions.

I was very much pleased with this portion of the country:  it quite resembles the park-like features of Port Phillip.  We heard the kangaroos thumping the ground all night, as they hopped along round our bivouac, the heavier fall of the male being plainly distinguishable.  It was now determined to shape a southward course for Ungerup, one of Lady Spencer’s farms on the Hay River; and after laying down our position by a sort of dead reckoning I had kept to find the course, we started.

Soon after moving off, Lieutenant Warburton discovered that he had forgotten to leave some message or other at the station, and determined on sending back his native servant.  But as he was out of the limits of his own tribe, it required some persuasion to induce him to go; and he was only prevailed on to do so by being allowed to carry his master’s gun for protection.

Part of our road lay through a thick mahogany scrub; and as the horse I rode was a young unbroken one from the Cape, I might perhaps with less trouble have tried to take an elephant straight with a snaffle bit in his mouth.  The sameness of the trees in this part being very great it is difficult to hold a direct course; and if, after having chosen one to steer by, my attention happened to be taken off by a kangaroo starting up, I was always obliged to refer to the compass.