THEIR VARIOUS COMPLEXIONS.

Among the tribe we now communicated with there appeared a greater variety of feature and complexion than I had ever seen in aboriginal natives elsewhere; most of them had straight brown hair, but others had Asiatic features, much resembling Hindoos, with a sort of woolly hair.

DECOROUS BEHAVIOUR.

There were two old men with grey beards who sat silent; and one who maintained a very ceremonious face seemed intent on preserving decorum, for he silenced a boy with a slight blow who had eagerly spoken while I was endeavouring to remind them of the former exploring party.  After they had sat a very short time and I had pointed out the direction in which I was proceeding, they arose and went away, and we continued our journey.  After we had advanced a mile or two a deep reach of the Bogan appeared on our right, or northward; and one of the natives, followed by others who remained at some distance behind, came up to tell us there was water.  We accordingly gave the cattle some, and then went on, finally encamping on a bit of plain near the Bogan where Oxley’s Tableland bore about south-south-east, and having travelled nearly twelve miles.  Observed latitude 33 degrees 3 minutes 29 seconds South.

NAKED PLAINS.

May 24.

The party moved this morning about seven miles towards the west until Oxley’s Tableland bore 125 degrees.  We travelled chiefly across plains destitute of grass; and from which we had good views of that strangely named hill, never seen by Oxley, and in fact, not a tableland.

A NATIVE VISITOR.

A native came after us, bearing a small piece of canvas which had been thrown away at the former camp.  He accompanied us during the rest of the day’s journey, and I gave him a tomahawk, and a seventh part of my old sword blade.  He continued at the camp, and asked for everything he saw, but we took care not to understand him.

SOFT EARTH OF THE PLAINS.

All over these plains the ground was so soft, being quite clear of roots or sward, that the cartwheels sunk very deep in it.  The soil nevertheless appeared to be excellent, although it was naked like fallow land, for the roots of the umbelliferous plants which grew there had so little hold that they were easily set loose by the winds and lay about the surface.  At dark five natives advanced along our track, shouting, but remaining at a distance.  I sent two men to them (one with a fire-stick) in order to tell them we were going to sleep.  Two of the party were old men, one having hoary hair, and all five carried spears, which they stuck in the ground, and sat down as soon as our people went up to them.  After that interview they decamped towards the Bogan.

May 25.

Early this morning the same men came to a tree, at some distance from the tents.  I went to them and showed them my watch, compass, etc.; when they pointed to the northward, making motions by which I supposed they meant to represent three courses of the sun; and I therefore concluded that they had seen me on the Karaula three years before.