MEET A TRIBE OF NATIVES.

While engaged in this work, one of the men said he heard voices.  On gaining once more the opener forest, we saw two newly felled trees which had been cut with an iron axe or tomahawk; and immediately after we perceived the natives at a little distance.  They were hurrying off, but being most anxious to conciliate them and gain if possible some information respecting the country, I sent Dawkins, who was an eager volunteer on the occasion, forward to them, and he prevailed on several to stop and speak to him, while their women and children decamped.  When they seemed no longer disposed to run, I ventured forward; but those who had got round Dawkins, on seeing me approach, made off, one by one, until none remained when I rode up to Dawkins, except a young man.  Not a word was understood on either side, yet our new acquaintance talked fluently, and also repeated what we said to him.  He carried no spear or weapon, with the exception of three little sticks, which he held in the left hand; neither did he wear any dress or ornament, nor was his skin much scarified.  His features were not bad, and they wore an expression of extreme good nature.  We now regretted more than ever the absence of Mr. Brown, as with his assistance we might now have learnt so much respecting the rivers and the country before us.  The tribe appeared to consist of about thirty individuals; those who remained, at a distance, carried spears, and were evidently much afraid of us.  The string of low slang words which the natives nearer the colony suppose to be our language, while our stockmen believe they speak theirs, was of no use here.  In vain did Dawkins address them thus:  “What for you jerran budgerry whitefellow?” “Whitefellow brother belong it to blackfellow."* Neither had the piece of tobacco, which he had put in the stranger’s mouth, any effect in bringing intelligible words out of it, although the poor fellow complacently chewed the bitter weed.  He readily ate some bread which was given him, and on presenting him with a halfpenny he signified by gesture that he should wear it at his breast, a fashion of the natives nearer the colony.  I placed in his hand a small tomahawk, the most valuable of gifts to his tribe; and leaving him enriched thus, we quietly continued our journey, that the tribe might see our purpose had no particular reference to them, and that they had no cause for alarm, as our behaviour to the young man must have sufficiently testified.

(Footnote.  Meaning:  Why are you afraid of a good white man?  The white man is the black man’s brother.)

We soon after entered another extensive plain on which the rich soil, when we had got halfway across, changed to a stiff clay, the grass marking the change by a difference of colour, being red on the clay and quite green on the other soil.  This clay occupied the highest part of the plain.  Passing through another scrub of Acacia pendula we reached a still more extensive plain, and while we were crossing it I was informed, by the carpenter, that the wheels of one of the carts were falling to pieces and required immediate repair.  We accordingly halted, and some wedges were driven into them.  The thermometer here stood at 97 degrees.