We fell in with several tribes, but did not see our old friend, although, from the inquiries we made, it was evident he was well known among them.  It would disgust my readers were I to describe the miserable state of disease and infirmity to which these tribes were reduced.  Leprosy of the most loathsome description, the most violent cutaneous eruptions, and glandular affections, absolutely raged through the whole of them; yet we could not escape from the persecuting examination of our persons that curiosity prompted them in some measure to insist upon.

Rejoined by our old native guide.

The old man, whose information had proved strictly correct, joined us again on the 4th, and his joy at being received into the boat was unbounded, as well as the pleasure he expressed at again meeting Hopkinson.  He had been on a long journey, it would appear, for he had not then reached his tribe.  As we approached their haunt, he landed and preceded us to collect them.  We were, of course, more than usually liberal to so old a friend, and we were really sorry to part with him.

Soon after leaving his tribe, which occupied the left bank of the river, and was very weak in point of numbers, we fell in with a very strong tribe upon the right bank.  They numbered 211 in all.  We lay off the bank, in order to escape their importunities; a measure that by no means satisfied them.  The women appeared to be very prolific; but, as a race, these people are not to be compared with the natives of the mountains, or of the upper branches of the Murray.

We passed some beautiful scenery in the course of the day.  The river preserved a direct southerly course, and could not in any place have been less than 400 yards in breadth.  The cliffs still continued, and varied perpetually in form; at one time presenting a perpendicular wall to the view, at others, they overhung the stream, in huge fragments.  All were composed of a mass of shells of various kinds; a fact which will call for further observation and remark.

Delayed by strong winds.

Many circumstances at this time tended to confirm our hopes that the sea could not be very far from us, or that we should not be long in gaining it.  Some sea-gulls flew over our heads, at which Fraser was about to shoot, had I not prevented him, for I hailed them as the messengers of glad tidings, and thought they ill deserved such a fate.  It blew very hard from the S.W., during the whole of the day, and we found it extremely laborious pulling against the heavy and short sea that came rolling up the broad and open reaches of the Murray at this place.

Four of the blacks, from the last tribe, followed us, and slept at the fires; but they were suspicious and timid, and appeared to be very glad when morning dawned.  Our fires were always so much larger than those made by themselves, that, they fancied, perhaps, we were going to roast them.  Our dogs, likewise, gave them great uneasiness; for although so fond of the native brute, they feared ours, from their size.  We generally tied them to the boat, therefore, to prevent a recurrence of theft, so that they were not altogether useless.