Discovered to be friends.

The natives no sooner heard the gun and saw me approaching than they came running to me.  Presently Kaiber called out to me, “Mr. Grey, Mr. Grey, nadjoo watto, nginnee yalga nginnow,” “Mr. Grey, Mr. Grey, I am going to them; you sit here a little;” and he then, with his long thin ungainly legs, bounded by me like a deer.  “Imbat, friend,” I heard him cry out, as a young man came running up to him.  I grew giddy; I knew Imbat by name, and felt assured that at all events the lives of a great portion of my party were safe.  In a few minutes Kaiber had given an outline of our adventures and present state.  Fearing such mischances as had really happened to me, I had, previously to my departure to the north, done my utmost to cultivate the friendship of the northern natives; and most of them, even to the distance of sixty or seventy miles from Perth in that direction, had received presents from me.  My name was well known amongst them as a tried friend, although indeed my common denomination was “Wokeley brudder,” or Oakley’s brother; for, from my giving them flour, they concluded that I was a relation of the baker of that name at Perth.

Hospitable reception by them.

The women were soon called up, bark baskets of frogs opened for us, by-yu nuts roasted, and as a special delicacy I obtained a small fresh-water tortoise.  “Now, friend, sleep whilst I cook,” said Imbat, and lighting a fire he made me lie down and try to slumber whilst he roasted some frogs and the turtle for me.  I was not over-well pleased at the skill he chose to exhibit in his cookery, for he thereby delayed me for a longer time than was agreeable, but we were all soon regaling on this native fare.

Anxious questions were put by the men as to their distance from Perth, and the natives all told them they would see it the next morning, “whilst the sun was still small;” and on further enquiry it turned out that a kangaroo hunter of the name of Porley was at a hut distant only seven miles from us, and according to the account of the natives he had a supply of provisions with him.  As soon therefore as I had a little recruited my strength I started on with Imbat to the hut, leaving the men to follow in company with the other natives as rapidly as their strength would allow them.  Imbat carried my gun and everything but a book or two and my papers, which, being precious documents, I had never trusted out of my own possession, however heavy my labours and misfortunes had been.  He moved merrily along, trying to win me from my moody thoughts by relating all the news of the settlement both as concerned the Europeans and natives; for like all other idle people the natives are great gossips and really love a little scandal.  Worn out from fatigue, I was rather petulant and ill-tempered, but Imbat talked on unmindful of this, or only laughed at me, and jeered me for it.