to the south and south-west appeared darkly covered with brush; to the west, there were numerous stony undulations; northward and to the east were immense grassy plains, with many creeks, all making for a common centre upon them.  In the near ground to the south-east, the surface of the country was of fine white sand, partly covered with salsolaceous plants, with small fragments of stone, and patches of more grassy land.  There was no fixed point on which to take a bearing, nor could we see anything of the higher ranges, now to the north-west of us.

In returning to the creek, we observed a body of natives to our left.  They were walking in double file, and approaching us slowly.  I therefore pulled up, and sent Mr. Stuart forward on foot, following myself with his horse.  As he neared them the natives sat down, and he walked up and sat down in front of them.  The party consisted of two chiefs and fourteen young men and boys.  The former sat in front and the latter were ranged in two rows behind.  The two chiefs wept as usual, and in truth shed tears, keeping their eyes on the ground; but Mr. Stuart, after the interview, informed me that the party behind were laughing at them and sticking their tongues in their cheeks.  One of the chiefs was an exceedingly tall man, since he could not have measured less than six feet three inches, and was about 24 years of age.  He was painted with red ochre, and his body shone as if he had been polished with Warren’s best blacking.  His companion was older and of shorter stature.  We soon got on good terms with them, and I made a present of a knife to each.  They told us, as intelligibly as it was possible for them to do, that we were going away from water; that there was no more water to the eastward, and, excepting in the creek, none anywhere but to the N.E.  I had observed, indeed, that the native paths had altogether ceased on the side of the creek on which we then were (the south or left bank), and the chief pointed that fact out to me, explaining that we should have to cross the creek at the head of the water, under the trees, and get on a path that would lead us to the N.E.  On this I rose up and mounting my horse, riding quietly towards it, descended into the bed of the creek, in which the natives had their huts, but their women and children were not there.  The two chiefs and the other natives had followed, but, the former only crossed the creek and accompanied us.  We almost immediately struck on the native path which, as my tall friend had informed me, led direct to the N.E.

I was not at first aware, what object our new friends had in following or rather accompanying us; but, at about a mile and a half, we came to a native hut at which there was an old man and his two lubras.  The tall young man introduced him to us as his father, in consequence of which I dismounted, and shook hands with the old gentleman, and, as I had no hatchet or knife to give him, I parted my blanket and gave him