As they conducted themselves so inoffensively, we gave them everything we had to spare.  My gun seemed to excite their curiosity, as they had seen Mr. Hume shoot a cockatoo with it; they must consequently have been close to us for the greater part of the day, as the bird was killed in the morning.  It was of a species new to me, being smaller than the common white cockatoo, and having a large scarlet-and-yellow instead of a pine-yellow top-knot.

Having stayed about half an hour with them, we remounted our horses, and struck away from the river into the plains, while the natives went up its banks to join their hordes.  Those whom we saw were about twenty-seven in number and the most of them were strangers.

Distress from thirst.

It was some time after sunset before we reached the little plain on which we had arranged to sleep, and when we dismounted we were in a truly pitiable state.  I had been unable to refrain from drinking copiously at the river, and now became extremely sick.  Mr. Hume had been scarcely more prudent than myself, but on him the water had a contrary effect, as well as upon Hopkinson.  The tinker was the only man fit for duty, and it was well for us that such was the case, as the horses made frequent attempts to stray, and would have left us in a pretty plight had they succeeded.  We reached the camp on the following day a little before sunset, nor was I more rejoiced to dismount from my wearied horse than to learn that everything in the camp had been regular during our absence and that the men had kept on the best terms with the natives who had paid them frequent visits.

The bullocks had improved, but were still extremely weak, and as the horses we had employed on the last journey required a day or two’s rest, it was arranged that we should not break up our camp until the 12th, beyond which period we could not stop, in consequence of the low state of our salt provisions, we having barely sufficient to last to Mount Harris, at the rate of two pounds per week.

Remarks on the natives.

The morning after we returned from our excursion, a large party of natives, about seventy in number, visited the camp.  On this occasion, the women and children passed behind the tents, but did not venture to stop.  Most of the men had spears, and were unusually inquisitive and forward.  Several of them carried fire-sticks under the influence of the disease I have already noticed, whilst others were remarked to have violent cutaneous eruptions all over the body.  We were pretty well on the alert; notwithstanding which, every minor article was seized with a quickness that would have done credit to a most finished juggler.  One of the natives thus picked up my comb and toothbrush, but as he did not attempt to conceal them, they were fortunately recovered.  After staying with us a short time the men followed the women.  They appeared to be strangers who had come from a distance.