I was extremely pleased at this trait of honesty, and determined to reward it.  On inquiry, I found that the men had availed themselves of the day to wash their blankets and that one of them had been flung over a bush hanging over the bank of the river, and it was supposed that one of the natives must have pulled it down with him.  In the morning, the tribe went away from their encampment before day-light as we judged from the cry of their dogs, than which nothing could be more melancholy; but about eight, the men made their appearance on the hill occupied by the women the evening previously, and seemed to be doubtful whether to approach nearer.  I went out to them, and, with a downward motion of my hand, beckoned for them to come to me:  they mistook the signal, but laid all their spears on the ground, and it was not until after the sign had been reversed that they stirred or moved towards me.  I then got them in a row, and desired Hopkinson to single out the man who had given him the blanket.  It was, however, with great difficulty that he recognised him, as the man stood firm and motionless.  At length, after walking two or three times along the line, he stopped before one man, and put his hand on his shoulder, upon which the manner of the native testified as to the correctness of his guess.

The blanket being produced, I explained to the savage, with Mr. Hume’s assistance, that I was highly pleased with him, and forthwith presented him with a tomahawk and a clasp-knife.  The tribe were perfectly aware of the reason of my conduct, and all of them seemed highly delighted.

I was happy in having such an opportunity of showing the natives of the interior that I came among them with a determination to maintain justice in my communication with them, and to impress them, at the same time, with a sense of our love of it in them.  That they appreciated my apparent lenity in not calling for the defaulter, I am sure, and I feel perfectly conscious that I should have failed in my duty had I acted otherwise than I did.

Effect of firing A gun.

Although the natives had shown so good a disposition, as they were numerous, I thought it as well, since I was about to leave the camp, to show them that I had a power they little dreamt of about me.  I therefore called for my gun and fired a ball into a tree.  The effect of the report upon the natives, was truly ridiculous.  Some stood and stared at me, others fell down, and others ran away; and it was with some difficulty we collected them again.  At last, however, we did so, and, leaving them to pick out the ball, mounted our horses and struck away for the Darling.  We crossed the river a little above where we struck it, and then proceeded N.W. into the interior.

Excursion across the Darling.