The old men slept very soundly by the fire, and were the last to get up in the morning.  M’Leay’s extreme good humour had made a most favourable impression upon them, and I can picture him, even now, joining in their wild song.  Whether it was from his entering so readily into their mirth, or from anything peculiar that struck them, the impression upon the whole of us was, that they took him to have been originally a black, in consequence of which they gave him the name of Rundi.  Certain it is, they pressed him to show his side, and asked if he had not received a wound there—­evidently as if the original Rundi had met with a violent death from a spear-wound in that place.  The whole tribe, amounting in number to upwards of 150, assembled to see us take our departure.  Four of them accompanied us, among whom there was one remarkable for personal strength and stature.—­The 21st passed without our falling in with any new tribe, and the night of the 22nd, saw us still wandering in that lonely desert together.  There was something unusual in our going through such an extent of country without meeting another tribe, but our companions appeared to be perfectly aware of the absence of inhabitants, as they never left our side.

Although the banks of the river had been of general equality of height, sandy elevations still occasionally formed a part of them, and their summits were considerably higher than the alluvial flats.

Rapid in the river—­dangerous descent of the boats.

It was upon the crest of one of these steep and lofty banks, that on the morning of the 22nd, the natives who were a-head of the boat, suddenly stopped to watch our proceedings down a foaming rapid that ran beneath.  We were not aware of the danger to which we were approaching, until we turned an angle of the river, and found ourselves too near to retreat.  In such a moment, without knowing what was before them, the coolness of the men was strikingly exemplified.  No one even spoke after they became aware that silence was necessary.  The natives (probably anticipating misfortune) stood leaning upon their spears upon the lofty bank above us.  Desiring the men not to move from their seats, I stood up to survey the channel, and to steer the boat to that part of it which was least impeded by rocks.  I was obliged to decide upon a hasty survey, as we were already at the head of the rapid.  It appeared to me that there were two passages, the one down the centre of the river, the other immediately under its right bank.  A considerable rock stood directly in own way to the latter, so that I had no alternative but to descend the former.  About forty yards below the rock, I noticed that a line of rocks occupied the space between the two channels, whilst a reef, projecting from the left bank, made the central passage distinctly visible, and the rapidity of the current proportionably great.  I entertained hopes