By three P.M. we again occupied the remarkable point where we had formerly encamped.  It is at this point (Mount Lookout on the map) that the berg of the Murray terminates on the basin of the Darling and thus commands, as before observed, an extensive view over the woody country to the westward.  It would be an important position in any kind of warfare, and during my operations I felt as strong upon it with my party as if we had been in a citadel.  I had now, I hoped, again got between the junction tribes and our old enemies, though the latter were still between us and our depot; and thus any danger of the junction tribes uniting with those up the Murray was less to be apprehended.  Piper however discovered the track of a considerable number who had proceeded up the river the day before.  Indeed all the tracks of natives he found led upwards and, seeing no longer any of them there, we felt more anxious about the safety of the depot.

APPEARANCE OF RAIN.  CHANCE OF BEING CUT OFF FROM THE DEPOT BY THE RIVER FLOODS.

The barometer had been falling gradually from the 1st instant, and this was another source of anxiety to me; for we were in no small danger of being separated from the other party by any such rise of the river as might be expected after a heavy fall of rain.

June 4.

Notwithstanding the unpromising state of the mercurial column the night had been fair, and in the morning the sky was clear.  We lost no time in moving on and we continued until we were four miles beyond our former camp; and then crossing Golgol creek we occupied a clear point of land between it and the Murray.

A SAVAGE MAN AT HOME.

As I was reconnoitring the ground for a camp I observed a native on the opposite bank and, not being seen by him, I watched awhile the habits of a savage man at home.  His hands were ready to seize any living thing; his step, light and noiseless as that of a shadow, gave no intimation of his approach; and his walk suggested the idea of the prowling of a beast of prey.  Every little track or impression left on the earth by the lower animals caught his keen eye, but the trees overhead chiefly engaged his attention; for deep in the heart of some of the upper branches he probably hoped to find the opossum on which he was to dine.  The wind blew cold and keenly through the lofty trees on the river margin, yet that broad brawny savage was entirely naked.  Had I been unarmed I had much rather have met a lion than that sinewy biped; but situated as I was, with a broad river flowing between us while I overlooked him from a high bank, I ventured to disturb his meditations with a loud halloo:  he stood still, looked at me for about a minute, and then retired with that easy bounding step which may be termed a running walk, and exhibits an unrestrained facility of movement, apparently incompatible with dress of any kind.  It is in bounding lighting at such a pace that, with the additional aid of the