MEETING WITH A NEW TRIBE.

Our native comrades now commenced hallooing to the fugitives, stating that I had come from the white people to bring them a present of rice and flour.  Moreover Jenna shouted out to his uncle, “Am not I your nephew—­why then should you run away?” This and similar speeches had, at length, the desired effect.  First one of them advanced, trembling from head to foot, and when I went forward to meet him and shook hands with him it reassured the others, and they also joined our party, yet still not without evident signs of fear.  An old man now came up who could not be induced to allow me to approach him, appearing to regard me with a sort of stupid amazement; neither horses or any other of those things which powerfully excited the curiosity of the others had the least charm for him, but his eyes were always fixed on me with a look of eagerness and anxiety which I was unable to account for.

We explained to the strange natives that we intended to halt for the night in this neighbourhood, and asked them to show us a good spot with plenty of water and grass.  At the same time those I had with me stated to the others that unless the women and children came in I would give no rice or flour.  This declaration was however wholly unauthorised by my sanction, and arose from their desire of exhibiting their personal attractions to the ladies of these parts; but, feeling rather disposed to see a little savage flirtation, I raised no objection to it.

The oldest of the natives, who appeared to regard me with so much curiosity, went off for the purpose of collecting the women whilst we proceeded to our place of halt.  After going about three miles in a due north direction we made a river coming from an east and by south direction, and here called by the natives Goonmarrarup; it lies in rather a deep valley, and at this point consisted of large pools connected by a running stream about 20 yards wide.  There was plenty of wildfowl upon these pools and Ugat soon shot some for us.

SCENERY.

The scenery here was very picturesque:  high wooded hills were upon each side of us, and the valley was open and rather thinly timbered; but the few trees it contained were of considerable size and beauty.  Beneath one of these we prepared our bivouac, the strange natives doing their utmost to render themselves useful.  They had never before seen white people, and the quickness with which they understood our wants and hastened to gratify them was very satisfactory.

MEETING WITH NATIVE WOMEN.

After we had tethered the horses and made ourselves tolerably comfortable we heard loud voices from the hills above us:  the effect was fine for they really almost appeared to float in the air; and as the wild cries of the women, who knew not our exact position, came by upon the wind, I thought it was well worth a little trouble to hear these savage sounds under such circumstances.  Our guides shouted in return, and gradually the approaching cries came nearer and nearer.