From a tree at our camp a range was observed in the south-west, having become visible from refraction, and this rendered it still more probable that the river would continue its westerly course.  I soon found it necessary however to travel south-west in order to avoid it, and having yesterday exceeded our usual distance I halted at the end of 8 1/4 miles; the river being then distant about two miles to the north.  From a bare hill beyond this camp I could see nothing southward, except a perfectly level horizon of low bushes, the country being nevertheless full of hollows, in which grew trees of large dimensions.  The river line was so sunk among these hollows that I could trace it for only a short distance, and there it bore about west-north-west.  The banks of the river opposite to our camp of yesterday were of rather different character from those which we had seen above.  The slopes towards the stream commenced some hundred yards from it, and they were grassy and gently inclined on each side, so that our carts might have passed easily.  We saw enormous trees by the riverside, and the scenery was altogether fine.  The stream glided along at the rate of two miles per hour over a rock of ferruginous sandstone containing nodules of ironstone.

DANCE OF NATIVES.

Nine natives approached the party while on the march this day; and they appeared very well disposed, frank and without fear.  They carried no weapons.  While we halted I perceived through my glass a party of about seventeen on a small eminence near the riverbank, and nine others, whom I supposed to be those who had been with us, joined them; upon which a large fire was made under some trees.  Around this fire I distinctly saw them dance for nearly half an hour, their bodies being hideously painted white so as to resemble skeletons.  The weather was very cold and it seemed as if this dance amongst the burning grass was partly for the purpose of warming themselves.  I am rather inclined to suppose however, considering the circumstances under which the tribe higher up danced, that it was connected with some dark superstition, resorted to perhaps, in the present instance, either to allay fear or to inspire courage.  I saw several gins carrying children in cloaks on their backs, some of whom and several of the children also danced.  Our watering party was directed towards another portion of the river to avoid collision, if possible; and these natives at last decamped along its bank in an opposite direction, or downwards.

July 7.

As the people were packing up their tents, the fire of the natives appeared again in the wood, about a mile off and near the edge of the plain.  They soon after advanced towards our camp, and came up more frankly than any whom we had yet seen.  Gins with children on their backs, and little boys, came also.  The party sat down close to our tents and soon began to solicit by signs for a tomahawk.  It was evident that they had heard of us, and of our customs in that