THEN CROSS IT IN BOATS.

The river still continuing to rise, we were compelled at last to launch the boats, and by this means we effected the passage of the whole party and equipment before sunset; the boats having been also again mounted on the carriage the same evening.  The carts and boat-carriage were drawn through the bed of the river by means of the drag-chains which reached from the carriage on one side to a strong team of bullocks on the other.

USEFUL ASSISTANCE OF PIPER.

This was a very busy day for the whole party, black and white; I cannot fairly say savage and civilised for, in most of our difficulties by flood and field, the intelligence and skill of our sable friends made the whitefellows appear rather stupid.  They could read traces on the earth, climb trees, or dive into the water better than the ablest of us.  In tracing lost cattle, speaking to the wild natives, hunting, or diving, Piper was the most accomplished man in the camp.  In person he was the tallest, and in authority he was allowed to consider himself almost next to me, the better to secure his best exertions.  When Mr. Stapylton first arrived Piper came to my tent and observed that “That fellow had TWO coats,” no doubt meaning that I ought to give one of them to him!  The men he despised, and he would only act by my orders.  This day he rendered us much useful assistance in the water; for instance, when a cart stuck in the bottom of the river, the rope by which it was to be drawn through having broken, Piper, by diving, attached a heavy chain to it, thereby enabling the party to draw it out with the teams.

OUR FEMALE GUIDE DEPARTS.

At this place The Widow, being far beyond her own country, was inclined to go back and, although I intended to put her on a more direct and safe way home after we should pass the heads of the Murrumbidgee on our return, I could not detain her longer than she wished.  Her child, to whom she appeared devotedly attached, was fast recovering the use of its broken limb; and the mother seemed uneasy under an apprehension that I wanted to deprive her of this child.  I certainly had always wished to take back with me to Sydney an aboriginal child with the intention of ascertaining what might be the effect of education upon one of that race.  This little savage, who at first would prefer a snake or lizard to a piece of bread, had become so far civilised at length as to prefer bread; and it began to cry bitterly on leaving us.  The mother however thought nothing of swimming, even at that season, across the broad waters of the Millewa, as she should be obliged to do, pushing the child before her, floating on a piece of bark.

ENTER A HILLY COUNTRY.

July 4.