On our return to the party, we found them surrounded by the natives, who were looking with an eye of wonder on the cattle and horses.  We pointed out to them the direction in which we were going, and invited them to visit us; and nothing appeared to astonish them so much as the management of the team by a single man.  We got back to our position early, and again fixed ourselves upon it.

It now only remained for us to consider what we should do under circumstances of certainly more than ordinary perplexity.  We had nothing to hope for from travelling in a southerly direction, while to the E. and N.E., the state of the country was worse than that by which we had penetrated to the Darling.  It was evident, that the large creeks joining the Castlereagh in that direction were dry, since the natives not only intimated this to us, but it was unquestionable that they themselves had deserted them, and had crowded to such places as still contained a supply of water.  Even in retreating, we could not hope to retrace our steps.  Experience had proved to us, that the dry state of the interior was as injurious to the movements of an expedition as a too wet season would have been.  Taking everything, therefore, into consideration, I determined on leaving the party stationary, and on crossing the Darling to the N.W., and, if any encouraging feature presented itself, to return for the party, and persevere in an examination of the distant interior.  Such, at least, appeared to me the most judicious plan:  indeed, an attempt to have moved in any other direction would have been fruitless.  And, as the result of this journey would be decisive, and would either fix or determine our advance or retreat, I was anxious for Mr. Hume’s attendance.

The natives followed to the camp, and in the course of the afternoon, were joined by their women.  The latter however, would not approach nearer than the top of a little hillock on which they sat.  The men did not come round the tents, but stood in a row at a short distance.  At sunset, they gained a little courage, and wandered about a little more; at length they went off to the Darling.

Honesty of A native.

It was quite dark, when I heard a native call from the hill on which the women had been, and I desired Hopkinson to take his firelock and ascertain what the man wanted.  He soon after returned, and brought a blanket, which he said the man had returned to him.  The native was alone, and when he offered the blanket, kept his spear poised in his right hand; but, seeing that no violence was intended him, he lowered his weapon, and walked away.

Reward the man for his conduct.