Early this morning we were all awakened by the unwonted sound of THUNDER, the first we had heard after having been 4 1/2 months in the interior.  The wind had been high during the night, but a dead calm preceded the rumbling peals which were first heard at a great distance.  Soon however we had the cloud near enough in all its glory, with lightning playing above and about us, until the atmosphere seemed one continued blaze of light; the rain also fell heavily for a short time.  At daylight the sky was cloudy, and it seemed that the drought was about to break up; at least this was the most remarkable change in the weather which we had met with on the journey; and as we were doubtful about the state of the ponds of the Bogan I was well pleased with the prospect of rain.  We proceeded to the old camp of May 15, where we again pitched our tents.  There was not much rain during the day, but about sunset a heavy cloud accompanied by thunder and a squall broke over us.  Soon after the wind lulled, the sky became clear, and in the morning we found ice on the water; the atmosphere having resumed its usual serenity.

THREE NATIVES REMIND US OF THE MAN WOUNDED. FRIENDLY INTERVIEW.

August 22.

Early this morning the cooeys of three natives were heard.  On meeting them they went through the usual formalities; an old man fixing his eyes on the ground with due decorum.  They could say budgery; and by their repeating this word they appeared, in our eyes, infinitely less savage than the natives on the Darling.  They also plainly alluded to the man wounded with small shot at the encounter which took place on our formerly occupying the next camp up the Bogan.  We understood them to allude to this event by their tapping rapidly with the finger over the arm and shoulder; and then pointing towards the place where the unfortunate rencontre happened.  We had been more than usual on our guard in returning towards the haunts of a tribe where we had, although unwillingly, done such mischief; but these fellows seemed, by their laughing, to advert to it as a good joke, and we therefore concluded that the poor fellow had recovered.  They asked for nothing, and on retiring made signs that they were going towards the hills, or westward.  We travelled towards our former camp of May 14, but the distance being sixteen miles it was too much for our weak animals.  We halted therefore four miles short of it; and though we turned a mile off the route to the eastward in search of the Bogan we did not find it until after we had encamped, and then at nearly a mile further to the eastward still.

ANOTHER MAN OF THE PARTY TAKEN ILL.

Another man of the party, Johnston, who was rather aged, began to show symptoms of the black scurvy, which made him walk lame.  This might be partly attributed to the rancidity of the salt pork rather than the saltness, as it had been in a great measure spoiled by having been taken out of the proper barrels and put without brine into the water casks before I joined the party.  The two men now afflicted with scurvy were precisely those who ate this pork most voraciously; and consequently its effect soonest became apparent upon them.