ducks, and other wild fowl, flew over our heads to the N.W., as if making their way to some large or favourite waters.  My observations placed us in lat. 34 degrees 8 minutes 15 seconds south, and in east long. 141 degrees 9 minutes 42 seconds or nearly so; and I was at a loss to conceive what direction the river would ultimately take.  We were considerably to the N.W. of the point at which we had entered it, and in referring to the chart, it appeared, that if the Darling had kept a S.W. course from where the last expedition left its banks, we ought ere this to have struck upon it, or have arrived at its junction with the stream on which we were journeying.

Conversing by signs.

The natives, in attempting to answer my interrogatories, only perplexed me more and more.  They evidently wished to explain something, by placing a number of sticks across each other as a kind of diagram of the country.  It was, however, impossible to arrive at their meaning.  They undoubtedly pointed to the westward, or rather to the south of that point, as the future course of the river; but there was something more that they were anxious to explain, which I could not comprehend.  The poor fellows seemed quite disappointed, and endeavoured to beat it into Fraser’s head with as little success.  I then desired Macnamee to get up into a tree.  From the upper branches of it he said he could see hills; but his account of their appearance was such that I doubted his story:  nevertheless it might have been correct.  He certainly called our attention to a large fire, as if the country to the N.W. was in flames, so that it appeared we were approaching the haunts of the natives at last.

It happened that Fraser and Harris were for guard, and they sat up laughing and talking with the natives long after we retired to rest.  Fraser, to beguile the hours, proposed shaving his sable companions, and performed that operation with admirable dexterity upon their chief, to his great delight.  I got up at an early hour, and found to my surprise that the whole of them had deserted us.  Harris told me they had risen from the fire about an hour before, and had crossed the river.  I was a little angry, but supposed they were aware that we were near some tribe, and had gone on a-head to prepare and collect them.

Large concourse of natives—­their hostile demeanour.

After breakfast, we proceeded onwards as usual.  The river had increased so much in width that, the wind being fair, I hoisted sail for the first time, to save the strength of my men as much as possible.  Our progress was consequently rapid.  We passed through a country that, from the nature of its soil and other circumstances, appeared to be intersected by creeks and lagoons.  Vast flights of wild fowl passed over us, but always at a considerable elevation, while, on the other hand, the paucity of ducks on the river excited our surprise.  Latterly, the