with indifference.  As I did not intend to fatigue the men by continuing to pull farther than we were in the habit of doing, we landed at our usual time on the left bank, and while the people were pitching the tents, I walked down the bank with M’Leay, to treat with these desperadoes in the best way we could, across the water, a measure to which my men showed great reluctance, declaring that if during our absence the natives approached them, they would undoubtedly fire upon them.  I assured them it was not my intention to go out of their sight.  We took our guns with us, but determined not to use them until the last extremity, both from a reluctance to shed blood and with a view to our future security.  I held a long pantomimical dialogue with them, across the water, and held out the olive branch in token of amity.  They at length laid aside their spears, and a long consultation took place among them, which ended in two or three wading into the river, contrary, as it appeared, to the earnest remonstrances of the majority, who, finding that their entreaties had no effect, wept aloud, and followed them with a determination, I am sure, of sharing their fate, whatever it might have been.  As soon as they landed, M’Leay and I retired to a little distance from the bank, and sat down; that being the usual way among the natives of the interior, to invite to an interview.  When they saw us act thus, they approached, and sat down by us, but without looking up, from a kind of diffidence peculiar to them, and which exists even among the nearest relatives, as I have already had occasion to observe.  As they gained confidence, however, they showed an excessive curiosity, and stared at us in the most earnest manner.  We now led them to the camp, and I gave, as was my custom, the first who had approached, a tomahawk; and to the others, some pieces of iron hoop.  Those who had crossed the river amounted to about thirty-five in number.  At sunset, the majority of them left us; but three old men remained at the fire-side all night.  I observed that few of them had either lost their front teeth or lacerated their bodies, as the more westerly tribes do.  The most loathsome diseases prevailed among them.  Several were disabled by leprosy, or some similar disorder, and two or three had entirely lost their sight.  They are, undoubtedly, a brave and a confiding people, and are by no means wanting in natural affection.  In person, they resemble the mountain tribes.  They had the thick lip, the sunken eye, the extended nostril, and long beards, and both smooth and curly hair are common among them.  Their lower extremities appear to bear no proportion to their bust in point of muscular strength; but the facility with which they ascend trees of the largest growth, and the activity with which they move upon all occasions, together with their singularly erect stature, argue that such appearance is entirely deceptive.

Intercourse with natives.